INSIDE BUTCHER’S HEALTHY HEART: A VET’S PERSPECTIVE
We all know how important heart health is for us, but it matters just as much for our dogs. A balanced diet plays a vital role in keeping their hearts strong.
In support of British Heart Health Week, vet and Butcher’s ambassador Matt Jackson Smith highlights how Butcher’s Healthy Heart recipes help. Made with naturally active ingredients, each recipe supports heart muscle function, keeping your dog healthy, happy, and full of life. Let’s take a closer look at the key ingredients inside Healthy Heart and how they benefit your dog’s cardiovascular health.
Let’s talk about Taurine
Taurine is often referred to as a type of protein, but more precisely, it’s a sulfur-containing amino acid. You’ll find it in high concentrations throughout the body, particularly in skeletal muscles, the nervous system, the eyes, and most importantly, the heart.
Why is Taurine so important? It plays a critical role in the contractility of the heart – that is, how effectively the heart muscle pumps blood. That’s why Taurine gets so much love, it helps keep your heart strong and steady.
Why Antioxidants Matter for Your Dog
To really understand antioxidants, let’s start with something familiar: exercise. When your dog (and yes, even you!) gets moving, the body ramps up its metabolism. That means the heart and skeletal muscles are working overtime to produce the energy needed to keep going.
But with all that energy production comes a downside, something called reactive oxygen species (ROS). These are unstable molecules that ricochet through the body, bouncing between cells and potentially causing damage along the way. That’s where antioxidants come in. Think of them as your dog’s internal clean-up crew. Nutrients like Vitamin E act like molecular mops, neutralising these unruly ROS before they can do harm.
Want to boost your dog’s antioxidant intake? Vegetables like spinach and butternut squash are excellent natural sources, and can be found in our Healthy Heart recipes.
Omega-3s for Happy Hearts
You’ve probably heard of omega-3s, especially DHA, when it comes to keeping your dog’s joints in good shape. But did you know they’re just as important for heart health?
These healthy fats don’t just fight inflammation, they also help keep your dog’s heart rhythm steady and strong. That’s why our Healthy Heart recipe includes plant-based omega-3 algae oil, naturally rich in DHA, to help support a happy, healthy heart.
HEAR WHAT OUR VET AMBASSADOR HAS TO SAY
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