Knowing Heart Murmurs in Dogs

Just because ‘heart’ is involved in this disease, it is not a serious disease. Canine heart murmur is a common heart anomaly in which one can listen to some unusual sound from dog’s heart through stethoscope. Calling heart murmurs a disease would be in appropriate but these surely may be signs of any underlying disease.

What causes heart murmurs in dogs?

Heart murmurs in dogs can be hereditary or can be later acquired in life. Anatomical heart defects and infectious diseases are the most common causes behind this abnormality. Atrial or ventrical septal defects may also be the reason behind heart murmurs in canine.

Some other causes that lead to heart murmurs in dogs include:

• Patent ductus arteriosus
• Cardiomyopathy
• Heartworm infection
• Tetralogy of fallot
• Hyperthyroidism

Symptoms of Canine Heart Murmurs:

Symptoms of heart murmurs in dogs are not specific. Some of the symptoms which predict the possibility of heart murmurs include following:

• Intolerance to exercise
• Decline level of activities
  Panting (even when the dog is relaxed)
• Difficulty in breathing
• Consistent cough
• Fainting spells
• Loss of appetite
• An unusual heartbeat
• Abdominal distension

Diagnosing heart murmurs in dogs:

First of all, your vet will try to listen to some abnormal sound from the heart of your dog through stethoscope. If vet hearts something unusual, he or she may go for further tests to find the cause of murmur.  Following diagnostic tests are recommended for detecting possible reasons of heart murmurs:

• Blood tests including complete blood count and pro BNP blood test
• Cardiac ultrasound
• X-ray of chest
• Electrocardiogram

Treatment for heart murmurs in dogs:

If your puppy has heart murmurs from birth, it is not a big reason to worry and treatment is not recommended unless they become reason for some significant health problem. Sometimes it disappears with age, but it may take years. But if heart murmurs are becoming a reason to worry, treatment can be given on the basis of overall health and age of the dog. Surgical procedures are also there to treat murmurs.  However, treatment options will vary according to the severity of the situation. Medication, dietary changes (switching to low sodium kibble) and exercise will also help.

Tips for good health of your dog’s heart:

• Get the pro BNP blood test of your dog by vet to manage early signs of heart murmurs (if your dog has)
• Regular exercise is important
• A good diet is the key (protein, healthy fats, coenzyme q10 should be there in diet)
• Ensure a good dental health of dog