If you've ever tossed your dog a piece of freeze-dried beef heart or turkey heart, you've already been feeding them CoQ10 – you just didn't know it had a name. Coenzyme Q10 is one of the fastest-growing ingredients in pet supplements right now, and unlike most trending buzzwords, this one has real science and a straightforward food source behind it.

Here's what CoQ10 actually does, why vets are increasingly interested in it for heart health, and how it shows up naturally in several Momentum treats without needing a supplement aisle at all.

What Is CoQ10, and Why Does It Matter for Dogs?

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a naturally occurring compound found in nearly every cell in your dog's body. It plays two key roles: helping cells produce energy at the mitochondrial level, and acting as an antioxidant that helps protect cells from oxidative damage.

Because the heart works harder and more continuously than almost any other muscle in the body, heart tissue naturally contains some of the highest concentrations of CoQ10 in the body. Dogs produce their own CoQ10, but like people, natural production can taper off with age – which is part of why CoQ10 gets so much attention in conversations about senior dog wellness and cardiac health.

Why Vets Are Paying Attention to CoQ10 and Heart Health

CoQ10 has become a common supportive supplement in veterinary cardiology, particularly for dogs managing conditions like myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) and congestive heart failure – both relatively common in aging and small-breed dogs. Research suggests CoQ10 may help support heart muscle function and offer antioxidant protection to cardiac tissue.

A few important caveats worth passing along to your readers:

• CoQ10 is considered a supportive nutrient, not a treatment or cure for heart disease
• Dogs with diagnosed heart conditions should only take CoQ10 under veterinary guidance
• Dogs on blood thinners or other heart medications should check with a vet before adding CoQ10-rich foods or supplements, since interactions are possible

None of this makes CoQ10 something to be nervous about in a normal diet – it's naturally present in the foods dogs have always eaten. It just means supplement-level dosing is a conversation for the vet, not the treat bag.

Where CoQ10 Naturally Occurs in Your Dog's Bowl

CoQ10 is found throughout the body, but organ meats – especially heart – are widely recognized as the richest whole-food sources. Muscle meat contains some, but nowhere near as much as organ tissue.

Roughly, per 100 grams:

• Beef heart: ~11.3 mg
• Chicken liver: ~11.6 mg
• Chicken heart: ~9.2 mg
• Beef liver: ~3.9 mg
• Standard muscle meat (beef, chicken, pork): under 3.5 mg

In other words, if you're already feeding heart-based treats, you're already feeding one of the most concentrated natural sources of CoQ10 available.

The Bonus Pairing: CoQ10 and Taurine

Heart tissue doesn't just deliver CoQ10 – it's also one of the richest natural sources of taurine, an amino acid tied to healthy heart muscle function and, in cats, an essential dietary requirement. The two nutrients showing up in the same ingredient isn't a coincidence: both are concentrated in tissue with high, continuous energy demands, which is exactly what heart muscle is.

Momentum's own lab testing backs up why the freeze-drying process matters here. Independent lab analysis (Matrix Sciences International, 2019) found freeze-dried chicken heart tested at 1.06% taurine, compared to 0.19% in raw chicken heart – over a 5x concentration increase. Freeze-drying is a gentle, low-heat process built to preserve nutrient density rather than cook it away, which is a big part of why organ-based freeze-dried treats punch above their weight nutritionally.

Momentum Treats Built Around Heart

If you want to work more natural CoQ10 into your dog's routine without changing their whole diet, these are the treats already built around heart tissue:

• Freeze-Dried Beef Heart Treats – 100% pure beef heart, single ingredient
• Freeze-Dried Chicken Heart Treats – 100% pure chicken heart, naturally rich in both CoQ10 and taurine
• Freeze-Dried Turkey Heart Treats – 100% pure turkey heart, among the richest natural taurine sources in the lineup
• Freeze-Dried Beef Training Bites – beef kidney and beef heart, sized for repetitive training rewards
• Freeze-Dried Chicken Training Bites – chicken gizzard and chicken heart, the same heart-based nutrition in a training-friendly size
• Freeze-Dried Pork Training Bites – pork kidney and pork heart, a novel-protein option for sensitive pets
• Freeze-Dried Turkey Training Bites – turkey gizzard and turkey heart, another heart-based option sized for training

Each one is single or limited ingredient, grain-free, and made without fillers or artificial additives – so the only thing in the bag is the nutrition itself.

Ready to add CoQ10-rich, single ingredient nutrition to your dog's routine? Shop Momentum's Freeze-Dried Single Ingredient Treats or Freeze-Dried Training Treats collections.

Common Questions About CoQ10 for Dogs

Is CoQ10 safe for dogs? Yes, for most healthy dogs, CoQ10 from whole-food sources like heart treats is well tolerated. Dogs with existing heart conditions or on heart medication should talk to their vet before adding CoQ10-rich foods or supplements.

How much CoQ10 does my dog need? There's no official AAFCO requirement for CoQ10, and food-based amounts aren't precisely dosed the way a supplement would be. Supplement-level dosing for a diagnosed condition should always be directed by a vet.

Can treats alone provide enough CoQ10? Heart-based treats are a natural, food-first way to include CoQ10 in your dog's routine, but they're a complement to a complete diet, not a substitute for veterinary care if your dog has a diagnosed heart condition.

Does freeze-drying destroy nutrients like CoQ10? No – freeze-drying is specifically designed to preserve nutrient density using low heat, which is why Momentum's own lab testing shows nutrient concentration (not loss) in freeze-dried organ meat compared to raw.