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.

I have been buying these supplements since May 2025, so far I feel it has been keeping my doggie’s heart stable in conjunction with his meds, however capsule is big and hard to hide, wish they can come up with a smaller capsule..and i had to empty the contents and give it via syyringe, he hated the taste because its both very salty and acidic..and my dog coughs after drinking water..not sure if its irritating his throat giving him acid reflux? Im not sure why its salty also because its supposed to help the heart..please advise if anyone notice it and its a potential problem..and i like to add, the pill gets gooey after some time, not a powder form anymore..its very sensitive to moisture..not sure if it will affect the efficacy of the vitamin..again im not here to criticize but just pointing out potential improvement of the product hopefully..so far my dog acts like a puppy on this heart supplement like he is a normal dog

These VetriScience CoQ10 Healthy Heart capsules have been very easy to use and convenient. The easy-open design is a big plus, especially if you need to mix the contents with food. I’ve had no issues opening the capsules, and my pet takes it without any problems when mixed in. I like that this supplement is specifically formulated to support heart health and uses Coenzyme Q10, a well-known ingredient for cardiovascular support. The quality feels reliable, and it’s reassuring to use a product from a brand known for veterinary supplements. Overall, this is a well-designed and practical heart health supplement. Easy to administer, good quality, and a great option for pets that need added cardiovascular support.

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 aussie dog was breathing horrible and dripping phlegm everywhere with his congestive heart failure. He is soo much better his panting isnt wet sounding at all. We do one in the morning one at night. Thank you!!

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.

This is an amazing product and it has definitely helped my older dog. My 9+ dog was exhibiting signs of fatigue and excessive panting with not a lot of exertion. Because he is older and has hip problems, it is hard to get him in a car - he can't hop up into my small crossover - so getting him to a vet is almost out of the question and I don't know any vets who make house calls. I saw this product when doing an Amazon search and thought it would be worth trying to see if it would help my dog. I have been giving my dog 3 capsules/day ( he weighs around 90 pounds) for the past several months and this product has truly made a big difference in my dog's physical well being. He has more energy and his huffing and puffing with exertion is practically non-existent. He is now able to go up and down the stairs with little or no effort and if there is a rabbit or squirrel in the yard when I let him out to do his doggie business, he runs across the yard trying to catch the little animals. Thankfully, they are much faster at escaping than he is at getting to them. My dog is now on his 4th bottle of the Cardio Strength. I will continue to buy this product and to give the capsules to him daily as it has made a big difference and a great improvement in his quality of life. The product is definitely worth the price I pay for it. Highly recommended.

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

Mein 13 Jahre alter Hund bekommt täglich eine Kapsel auf sein Essen und ist sichtlich vitaler geworden. Er ist herzkrank und das Q10 unterstützt hervorragend.

Bought this Coq10 for a recently acquired fiv+ cat. Comes in capsule form to conveniently add and mix in with food. He eats it added to food so must be palatable. Pleased with this outcome.

It is good for my dog’s heart murmuring, I splendid the powder into morning’s dry food, my dog do not resist it at all

Like the product. Could u make capsules of 30 g instead of just 10 g.