Heart Murmurs in Dogs : What You Need to Know

A heart murmur is an abnormal sound that a veterinarian hears when listening to a pet's heart with a stethoscope. Normally, an animal's sounds just like a human heart. When a heart murmur is detected an additional "whooshing" sound can be heard between the normal heart sounds. This additional sound is caused by the normal blood flow being disturbed. The main cause of heart murmurs in dogs is rapid blood flow in the heart due to narrowed or leaky valves.

Is My Dog’s Heart Murmur Serious?

A heart murmur is a sound, not a disease. For some dogs, a murmur is innocent and there is nothing to worry about. For others, discovering a murmur can be a warning to let you and your veterinarian know that things should be investigated further.

Your vet or a veterinary cardiologist will investigate to determine the cause of the heart murmur. Once this has been investigated, they will work to find out if your dog has a heart disease and the severity of the heart disease. This will usually be identified with additional diagnostic testing, like an echocardiogram which is an ultrasound of the heart.

How Do You Treat Heart Murmurs in Dogs?

Once initial testing has been completed, treatment will vary from patient to patient. The goal of treatment for heart murmurs is to treat the underlying condition causing the murmur. Some dogs with heart murmurs will continue to live their normal lives with no required treatment. If this is the case for your dog, you should continue to monitor your dog after your veterinary appointment for any changes in behavior or symptoms. Dogs diagnosed with more severe disease will benefit greatly from treatment. These treatments will range from oral medicine to surgery. A veterinary cardiologist will work with you to create a treatment plan that works best for your dog.

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You can learn more information from these helpful sources we used as references.

Clark, S. (2021, January 27). What does it mean if my pet has a heart murmur? . MedVet. Retrieved November 4, 2022, from https://www.medvetforpets.com/what-does-it-mean-if-my-pet-has-a-heart-murmur/

Saunders, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology), R. (2021, March 1). Myths and misconceptions about dogs with heart murmurs. VetSpecialists.com. Retrieved November 4, 2022, from https://www.vetspecialists.com/vet-blog-landing/animal-health-articles/2021/03/01/myths-and-misconceptions-about-dogs-with-heart-murmurs

Weishaupt, J. W. (2021, December 9). Heart issues in dogs: What is a heart murmur? WebMD. Retrieved November 4, 2022, from https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/what-to-know-heart-murmur-dogs