Home » Heart Murmurs in Dogs: Symptoms and Diagnosis
A heart murmur is an additional heart vibration produced by a disturbance in blood flow.
Extra heart beats are measured in intensity Grades I-VI and fall into three categories.
The symptoms of a heart murmur are simply the abnormal rhythm itself. All other symptoms may point to the root cause of the murmur.
Yes but every murmur is different. Life expectancy greatly depends on grade, categorization, and speed of treatment. Aforementioned, some murmurs are completely safe and require no treatment.
Diagnosing a heart murmur will typically happen during a routine vet examination of your dog. The murmur will be detected with a stethoscope. Your vet will use the scope to discern where in the 4 chambers of the heart the murmur is coming from.
If the murmur is rated as a Grade III higher further testing will be required. An ultrasound heart scan, a chest x-ray, or an ECG will be administered to gather more information and classify the condition.
Grade I-II will not require treatment, but they should be scanned every 6-12 months to ensure the murmur does not worsen. Higher grade murmurs will receive medicine including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, diuretics, and positive inotropes.
There are other medicines in the clinical stages that have shown promise to extend the life of dogs with murmurs. Be sure to ask your vet about the latest developments.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pup’s condition, please make an appointment with your veterinarian. Or, consult a virtual vet here.