While cancer is often cited as the leading cause of death in dogs, the devastating truth about canine heart disease, particularly sudden cardiac death, remains rarely discussed. Many dog owners have experienced the heartbreak of losing a seemingly healthy companion without warning. Just as in humans, where cardiac events are a primary cause of unexplained sudden deaths, we believe the same is true for our dogs. The Canine Heart Foundation was established to shed light on this critical issue, advocating for early diagnosis, accessible screening, and effective treatments through licensed veterinarians. We aim to prevent countless families from enduring such profound loss without answers.

Millions of dogs likely die suddenly each year without an autopsy, leaving owners to wonder why. While human physicians recognize heart failure as a major cause of sudden death, veterinary practice often overlooks or under-diagnoses heart conditions in dogs. The Canine Heart Foundation stands apart by actively questioning this oversight. We aim to expose the gap in veterinary cardiac care and highlight the preventable suffering it causes both dogs and their owners. Our mission is to ensure that comprehensive heart health evaluations become standard practice, moving beyond a system that frequently leaves canine cardiac issues undiagnosed and untreated.

Our mandate is not to hurt the vet community but to request they be more thorough and communicative to the pet owner so we can be aware and treat and plan for the life and eventual passing of our pet. When a pet owner has no idea their dog had ongoing yet very possibly treatable  heart failure it causes more pain for the dog and terrible emotional stress on the dog owner. Better communication is at the root of this problem and we seek to create pathways for communications.If the pet owner knows why their dog may die suddenly ahead of time it enables them to heal faster and then likely get another dog soon thereafter rather than struggling with brutally debilitating emotional grief for days, weeks, months, and even years second guessing themselves and their dogs treatment.

We are formulating plans to make communications between vets and all pet owners open and honorable. Its better when the pet owner knows what hurdle their dog is facing and not just the stupid comment some vets say, which is "You know, this (dog breed) usually only lives about so many years.", something no pet owner wants to hear, without clarification. Many times, vets dont want to discuss this because it means they may spend more time in the appointment than their business manager tells them is prudent and profitable.

Eventual end-of-life discussions must become part of the dialogue between the pet owner and the vet. Going forward, anything less is unacceptable.With the canine heart being at the center of sudden canine death this must become a central part of the pet care. Better communication will help relive the stress on the Vet, too. There is no question that billing efficiency and euthanasia are the major causes of vet dissatisfaction with their work. By creating an open dialogue with the pet owner regarding treatments and the reality of what their dog is facing medically short and long term will help all involved. The fact that vets know specifically why these dogs are dying suddenly but not sharing it with the pet owners has been very regrettable and arguably unforgivable.