How serious is a heart murmur in a dog?

If your dog has a heart murmur or other cardiac issues, you might be concerned about how serious this is. The aim is to check for any abnormal heart rhythms, heart murmurs and other potential heart conditions, and to determine what causes heart murmurs, whether my pet has heart disease, how this affects my dog’s life expectancy.

Oakland Veterinary Referral Services can help with the diagnosis and treatment of canine heart murmurs.

Although it can be a warning sign, a heart murmur in your dog does not necessarily mean that they have heart disease. It is an abnormal sound that occurs during blood flow. Between the typical “lub-dub” noises, there is a “swooshing” sound. A normal heartbeat’s vibration or change is what the murmur is. It may be a sign of a heart defect or a sign of heart disease. It may also be a sign of structural heart abnormality. This is why when your veterinarian detects a heart murmur, a comprehensive examination with diagnostic testing is crucial.

During an examination, your veterinarian will grade the heart murmur. The grades range from 1 for the smallest murmur to 6 for the largest In other words, the grade increases as the murmur becomes louder. The grade itself does not indicate whether or not there is heart disease present, but it can help us understand how severe the murmur is.

A few tests are advised for determining the origin of heart murmurs. Cardiovascular examinations such as an electrocardiogram, blood pressure readings, ultrasounds, and chest X-rays are among them. In addition to these, we’ll search for underlying heart-related illnesses like anemia, thyroid problems, infections, and more. We’ll also run a blood test called a Cardiopet ProBNP, which looks for the release of specific hormones and can detect heart defects or damage.

To provide the most accurate diagnosis and treatment plan, these tests are required. Treatment is not necessary for low grade heart murmurs in the absence of heart disease or other symptoms of illness or infection. However, we do keep an eye on your pet’s heart and general health. We will suggest modifying your pet’s lifestyle, including weight management, nutrition, and exercise, as well as certain medications, if the murmur is more severe or there are signs of heart disease.

How is a heart murmur detected?

When your veterinarian uses a stethoscope to listen to your dog’s heart, they typically find a heart murmur.

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Hearts are important, and since you don’t have to be a doctor to understand that, it makes sense to be worried if your dog has a heart murmur, according to your veterinarian.

However, there are a few things you need to be aware of before you start to worry.

To begin with, there are numerous varieties of heart murmurs. Some heart murmurs are more serious than others, and many of the underlying diseases that cause them can be treated.

Here are some fundamentals to help you understand heart murmurs, and keep in mind that your veterinarian is always available if you have any questions about your dog’s health.

Dog’s hearts, like ours, pump blood through their bodies. Hearts beat regularly as they pump the blood that keeps us alive, and you’ve probably listened to your own heartbeat or the heartbeat of a loved one at some point in your life.

When this blood flow is disturbed, a murmur is produced that can be heard and distinguished from a regular heartbeat using a stethoscope.

Veterinarians break murmurs down into several different classifications. The type and configuration (or quality) classifications are the most crucial for you to understand.

There are three types of murmurs: systolic, diastolic, and continuous. This classification is based on the timing of the murmur. For example, diastolic murmurs occur when the heart muscle is relaxed between beats, whereas systolic murmurs occur when the heart muscle contracts. On the other hand, persistent murmurs take place throughout your dog’s normal heartbeat cycle.

Your veterinarian can identify the type of murmur and determine what is causing it.

Grading is yet another instrument used by vets to assist in determining the source of the murmur.

On a scale of one to six, heart murmurs in canines are categorized.

Grade I murmurs are the least serious and are barely detectable with a stethoscope.

Grade II murmurs are soft, but your veterinarian can hear them with the help of a stethoscope.

Grade III murmurs have a loudness that falls in the middle of grades II and IV. Most murmurs that cause serious problems are at least a grade III.

Grade IV murmurs are loud and can be heard on either side of the chest.

Grade V murmurs are very loud and can be heard with a stethoscope without difficulty, and can also be felt by holding a hand against the dog’s chest.

Grade VI murmurs, like grade V murmurs, are very loud and can be felt through the chest wall, and are the most severe of the heart murmurs.

You might hear your veterinarian discussing the heart murmur’s configuration as she examines your dog’s heart. This describes the way the heart murmur sounds.

Configurations can be categorized into four main categories: plateau, crescendo-decrescendo, decrescendo, and machinery.

Plateau murmurs are characterized by a uniform loudness. These murmurs are usually associated with an aortic valve insufficiency.

Crescendo-decrescendo murmurs, like their name implies, get louder and then quieter. These are associated with conditions such as aortic and pulmonic stenosis.

Decrescendo murmurs start off loud and then grow quieter. These murmurs are commonly seen with aortic valve insufficiency or a ventricular septal defect.

Machinery quality, or continuous murmurs, are associated with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), which is a congenital heart defect.

When learning about heart murmurs for the first time, owners may find these terms confusing. Owners may feel overwhelmed by the amount of information available on each type of murmur and the conditions that cause it. The best person to ask about your dog’s specific condition is your veterinarian, who can also assist you in focusing your research.

Does the loudness (grade) of the murmur correlate with the severity of heart disease present?

Not always. A scale that measures murmur loudness is used to grade them (see below). Even though each veterinarian’s ears are unique, this scale can be used to describe murmurs and track them over time. Depending on the diagnosis, quiet murmurs may still indicate severe heart disease in a patient, whereas loud murmurs may not have a lifelong effect on a dog. This is why additional research into the origin of the murmur with a veterinary cardiologist is beneficial to inform treatment choices and offer prognostic data.

Grade 1: heard inconsistently in a quiet room with a quiet animal

Grade 2: easily heard but quieter than the normal heart sounds

Grade 3: same intensity as the heart sounds

Grade 4: louder than the heart sounds and heard on both sides of the chest

Grade 5: loud with a thrill (vibration) that can be felt with the hand against the chest

Grade 6: very loud with a thrill and can be heard with the stethoscope off the body wall

FAQ

How long can my dog live with a heart murmur?

Many dogs live a long time after receiving a heart murmur diagnosis, and some can even survive for years after receiving a heart failure diagnosis.

When should I worry about a heart murmur in my dog?

You should absolutely seek medical attention if your dog has a heart murmur and exhibits any of the following symptoms: coughing, congestion, altered breath sounds or rapid breathing, intolerance to exercise, weakness or “fainting,” gray or blue gums, abdominal distention, or lethargy.

Is a heart murmur life threatening in dogs?

Congestive heart failure typically results from heart murmurs associated with pathological heart diseases. This is a serious condition and can be fatal. A buildup of fluid in the lungs is a common symptom of canine heart failure.

What can you do for a dog with a heart murmur?

Medication, a special diet, or surgery might be necessary for a heart murmur brought on by a cardiac condition or defect. To monitor the murmur, your dog will at the very least need to see a veterinarian every six months. Depending on your dog’s condition, this visit might necessitate an additional echogram and/or X-rays.