Cardio Strength

If you're a cat owner, you're probably looking into this because your cat was just diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), probably with congestive heart failure (CHF). You're devastated. And you're probably desperate for info. I'll describe our experience here, including the role of VetriScience Labs Cardio Strength (later in this review). It's a bit of a long story, but bare with me. Hopefully the info will help you and your cat. Okay, so our 10-year-old cat, Melvin, was diagnosed with HCM with CHF in mid-December of 2016. Very grim diagnosis based on echocardiogram. He was in bad shape. After careful research and vet-guided experimentation, his regimen has been prescribed doses of furosemide (Lasix) and diltiazem twice a day (morning and night). It's crucial to give these regularly, and luckily they are not expensive. We get ours at a regular (human) pharmacy. We also give him 1/4 of a non-generic 81mg "low dose" aspirin every other day (in the morning). We have found that the name brand low-dose aspirin is easier to cut with a pill cutter. If you don't have a pill cutter, get one along with some 7-day pill organizers (a clear organizer for morning and a darker-colored one for night). Cutters and organizers are available on Amazon. You'll be doing a lot of cutting and pill organizing with an HCM/CHF cat. Anyway, on days where Melvin gets Lasix, diltiazem, AND aspirin, they are ALL able to fit in a size 4 clear empty gel capsule (also available on Amazon). We use the gel caps to give all medications, actually, because he has no trouble swallowing the size 4 caps (might be able to get away with size 3--just a tad bigger), and they will alleviate the bitter taste problem with ANY medication. We administer all pills with a pet pill gun (also available on Amazon). The pill gun is a godsend. You just confidently and quickly stick it back in your pet's mouth (wrap the cat in a towel if need be) and jam down the plunger. Boom! He doesn't even care about getting pills anymore. Quick and easy. No stress. We were unable to give pills before we discovered the empty gel caps trick and pill gun. Okay...so the prescribed medicine regimen was working well, but he was still having some breathing issues. This Cardio Strength supplement took us the rest of the way it seems. This is a BIG supplement pill. Luckily Melvin will take it when you sprinkle it on his food and mix it in. I wouldn't try to give this one with a pill gun. It's really big. So hopefully your cat will take it sprinkled on wet food. Otherwise you might need to get creative--maybe by splitting up the supplement into smaller gel caps and giving a couple of times a day. We just sprinkle one whole capsule over Melvin's food, IAMS MaxCal, which is a prescription diet (available through Amazon and elsewhere). It has a low sodium content, which is important. Mel is also an indoor-outdoor cat, and research has shown that the stress of not being able to go outside can really take a tool on an HCM cat. Our solution was to track him in real-time with the Pawtrack GPS collar designed specifically for cats (not yet available on Amazon, but it SHOULD BE). It's an incredible bit of technology at a very reasonable price. Cats with HCM are at risk of developing hind leg paralysis from thromboembolism. The aspirin is used to prevent this, but it's no guarantee. So, with Pawtrack we can track Mel and go to him if he seems to be in one spot for too long. I have tested this and and am able to get within 5-10 feet of him. When I get to where I think he is, I call him or activate the beeper, and there he is!! But I digress. So far Cardio Strength seems to be helping our cat more than the prescribed medications alone. I wouldn't want to drop the prescribed medications, but the supplement seems to be providing the boost that allows Mel to enjoy a high quality of life, which is critically important for us. PLEASE talk to your vet, though, before giving any supplements!! We have our fingers crossed that our comprehensive treatment plan will help keep Mel around for as long as possible. Cardio Strength seems to be helping to put a spring back in his step, and that is quite a significant thing when you consider the grim prognosis he was given. So far, so good. We continue to hope for the best and are grateful for the boost he seems to be getting from Cardio Strength.

I can't say with a scientific certainty that this works, but every indication is that it is a miracle. We adopted a mistreated Minpin two years ago and she was immediately diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure. She has been on a daily regimen of Furosemide, Vetmedin and Enalapril (the usual meds). In April of 2016, her coughing worsened and the vet said she'd be gone by the end of the month. My wife found this medicine on Amazon and we started it, despite the fact the doctor said it would do no good. Within a few days her coughing stopped and even now, a month after she is supposed to be dead, her coughing is way less than it's been in a long time. The only difference is this product. So, it might be luck and it might be that the disease suddenly abated on its own, but I think it's Cardio Strength. We now have an entire month longer with our little girl than the vet said we'd have. And every other additional day I give thanks. So, I'd give this product 10 stars if that was possible. UPDATE: AUGUST 2016: Still no coughing and she's doing great. Not too bad for a dog who wouldn't live past April. UPDATE: JANUARY 2017:. I don't if this is possible, but my dog is coughing less than ever. I'm starting to wonder if the CHF is actually getting better. Is that possible? UPDATE JULY 2017: I took the dog to the vet for her annual checkup and her condition has actually improved. I thought so, but this was confirmed by the vet. The doctor said that she has never seen this happen before. I am still giving the standard cocktail of Vetmedin, Enalapril and Furosemide, which serve to control the Congestive Heart Failure, but we both think the Vetriscience is what's made the difference. My fingers are crossed and I no longer dread every day thinking my dog will die. She's almost like a regular dog now. UPDATE FEBRUARY 27, 2018 My little girl died in my arms last night. She took a swift turn for the worse and I called the vet's emergency number , but they never called me back. I knew nothing could be done, but I wanted her to died quickly at the office. It was not to be. She suffered all night long in my arms and died at 523 in the morning. In the end, it went from "normal" to critical in just a few hours. I'm crying right now, but I shouldn't be. I got two extra years with her; but they went by so quickly.

This product did seem to make a significant difference in my older dog, it took about a month for the pills to take effect, about half the bottle in, I noticed his hacking went away and his energy level went from sleeping all the time and having no interest in participating in activities to bouncing across the yard chasing squirrels and tormenting the neighbors cats which was a beautiful change for me to see. I missed that version of him. However the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because the last half of the bottle seemed to go bad really fast, the powder in the capsules turned gunky and smelled really bad like fish. I did buy a second bottle but I've noticed now that his hacking has returned so I think I'll try a different product.

A year ago this month, my Sheltie (dog) was diagnosed with a stage 1 heart murmur at age 7. It was barely audible at the time and she was asymptomatic. The murmur was found during a routine exam. We had an echo performed shortly after, and it confirmed she had very early Mitral Valve Disease. We were so devasted when we learned that this valve disease could eventually turn into Congestive Heart Failure. I did a ton of research and come across this product. We started using it consistently every day, right away. I am happy to report that one year later the heart murmur/disease has not progressed!! In fact, the murmur was so slight that it took the vet a few minutes to even find it! Our dog is now 8 and still acts like a puppy...full of energy and spunk. The vet said she believes this supplement has helped and recommended to keep using it. The pills are pretty big and have a bad odor, but we are able to get our dog to eat it without any problems by putting the pill in a little bit of pumpkin and mixing it in with her dry dog food. I fully believe that this supplement is adding years to my dog's life and is literally saving her heart!! So so so glad I came across this product!

Just a concern after reading all the reviews. I worry when I see people asking how to wean off dogs from meds without consultation from a vet. Here is why...congestive heart failure is not cured. It can be managed and progressively gets worse. Vitamins and supplements work great, but nothing works better than a combo of these two. Just wanted to put that out there in hopes people are not taking their dogs off live saving meds on their own. The progression from stage 3 to 4 is fast. Trust me I know. I have one with a grade 6 hanging on and another with a grade 3. Please please please consult with the vet before doing anything. This is their heart we are talking about. DO NOT make the mistake I made by weaning my eldest off meds on my own because I felt he was doing better, not asking my vet, and he went into crisis while on vacation. There is NOTHING worse than holding your baby in your arms as he gasps for air, eyes looking at you like "mommy why can't I breathe?" I get teary eyed thinking about it. I did that to him. Because I felt I knew more than a professional. Several hundred dollars later, a trip to the ER overnight on oxygen and round the clock lasix, I learned my lesson. Listen to the vets. Trust me, they know what they are doing. If you don't feel confident with one vet, seek a second opinion. We cannot play doctor when it comes to their little hearts. My boys now go to a cardiologist, lots of money, but well worth it. I supplement with these by suggestion from her. Please learn from others mistakes. ***Update*** My eldest died in August 5th, 2018...BUT My other dog has been in stable condition for two years now and his heart is very enlarged. It is a miracle and I attribute it to me taking him to the cardiologist early when his murmur was getting louder. He is on Pimobendan, Enalapril, and Spironolactone. 2 years ago he should have been gone maybe 6 months after but he is STABLE. It is a combination of the heart meds and this vitamin. This vitamin is amazing, I already have had 2 dogs use it in conjunction with the heart medications and they got better! I will never stop using these vitamins. They have given me additional time with my babies.

My vet recommended taurine for my cat’s heart murmur. These pills are much too large to pill a cat, and nothing i do can get my cat to touch it. Pouring the powder into greenies = no go. Sprinkling powder over wet food = no go. The only way i've managed to get it down my cat's throat is to pour the contents of the pill into a dish, dissolve in water, and use a syringe to suck it up and squirt it down the throat. This worked a couple of times, but after that my cat became wise to it and started fighting me and it's just not a sustainable solution. Still hunting for something my cat will take willingly. Update 2 years later: I could not get this product to work for me at all. The rest of this is not related to this product, but maybe helpful for other pet parents going through the same process: a vet recommended hearts which are naturally rich in taurine. I have been feeding my cat 2-3 chicken hearts every day (which he LOVES - he runs in and starts begging as soon as he hears the tupperware open, and gobbles them right down) and after 2 years of this HIS HEART MURMUR IS COMPLETELY GONE. Yeah it’s another thing I have to cook for these damn HM cats but it’s infinitely easier than trying to force this taurine down his throat every day. I just flash cook a couple pounds of chicken hearts in boiling water, strain (saving the water/broth to use in their food), and freeze them, keeping a few days’s worth on hand in the fridge. I still would not recommend these pills and definitely recommend feeding hearts instead.

Have bloodwork done on your pet before giving them this supplement.

I have waited a year and a half before writing this. My 12 year old beagle was diagnosed with congested heart failure and put on all the regular meds. The meds were not expensive but the trips to the vet that were need to get refills were. I began research and figured using this in addition to the meds couldn’t hurt as my beagle was overweight with water, could barely walk without coughing and coughed continually at night. This isn’t a miracle drug that changes your dog over night. I use this with Doggie Dailies chews for her arthritis and I have a dog that is back to her old annoying self. I feel this started working to get her off her old meds within a three month time. After a year, the pills seemed to quit working, I upped the dose of this supplement and she leveled out again. I didn’t change anything but this supplement so I know it had a positive impact. With this and the doggie dailies she was able to get a little more exercise and get some weight off which definitely helps with both her CHF and her movement. She’s now so much happier. That’s all I wanted and I am so glad I have made her more comfortable in life. She still coughs some but she’s also a beagle with a soft palate. I am now able to make little changes like diet that I could do while she was in such bad condition. Please try it but please let your vet know

My dog has been taking this for years for her mitral valve disease. Good product but expensive. Please make it more affordable

This stuff is amazing. I have a 12 tear old male Pomeranian that developed a heart murmur and a cough, so I took him to the vet and he said its the start of congestive heart failure.. He recommended a heart ecg and bunch of drugs, said I would get back to him. I am a natural health care practioner so right away I researched what he needed and found this product. The first time I ordered 2 bottles and gave my boy pom one capsule per day and his sister as well even though there was no signs of heart fauilure with her. The coughing almost disappeared within 2 weeks except for when he gets real excited like when someone comes to the door. 3 months later its time for a check up, so right away he checks his heart and I see him moving his stethoscope around his chest and he stops and says that's weird his heart is normal no more murmur I have never seen that before. I told him about the vetriscience that I was giving him. This vet is not into alternate meds at all but he wanted to know what I was using, he said I cant deny the results of you using it. I now only give him one every 2 days and all is good. Thanks for a fantastic product. Marty

My Ragdoll was diagnosed with HCM after he went into CHF just shy of his first birthday. We started him on a regiment of medications and supplements (including Cardio Strength), but were told it was really only a matter of time before he had another heart failure event. That was 7 years ago, and we have had no problems since. The capsules are large, but if I dip it in yogurt, my kitty has no problem swallowing it. They are easy to open and not packed full, so if you need to pop in another small pill you can. I'm pretty sure he knows they help make him feel better, because he swallows it fairly willingly and even waits around when he knows it medication/feeding time! I have no way to know for sure if its the Cardio Strength itself that has made a difference, but given how my kitty has responded the vets advice has been to "change nothing" and I don't plant to! My kitty and I hope they never discontinue this product.

I am currently using this product for my 9 year old English bulldog. It is to soon to tell if he is benefiting from it but, he has not side effects and seems to be a little more energetic.

I use this for my cat with HCM. The capsules are much too large to give to a kitty, but I open the capsules and pour it into her food (half in the morning, half at night) and this seems to work great. It doesn't have a bad taste that puts her off of her food (in fact, my other cat tries to eat hers instead of his own when this is in it). No proof whether it is helping or not as of yet, but I feel like nutrient support can't hurt, and if it helps, then the price is more than worth it! (Hard to get this in Canada).