The most common cause of an acquired heart murmur in the dog is ‘mitral insufficiency’ (also called ‘mitral regurgitation’), a condition in which the mitral valve becomes thickened and begins leaking (see our handout ‘Mitral Valve Disease in Dogs’) – mitral insufficiency tends to be more common in small breed dogs.
How long can a dog live with a heart murmur?
Heart failure and heart disease can also be caused by heartworm disease, so making sure your dog is on a good heartworm prevention is crucial. Many dogs live a long time after being diagnosed with a heart murmur, and some can even live years after being diagnosed with heart failure.
How serious is a heart murmur in a dog?
Innocent Murmurs in Dogs
Heart murmurs sound serious, and often are, but sometimes a heart murmur is classified as an innocent heart murmur. These heart murmurs are not serious and often resolve with time. They are most commonly found in young dogs and are typically a grade III or less.
How do you treat a dog with a heart murmur?
A heart murmur caused by cardiac disease may require medication(s) and a specialised diet. Your dog will need regular vet visit for a routine monitoring every 6 months. This may include a repeat echogram and/or x-rays depending on your dog’s conditions.
What causes heart murmurs in older dogs?
As some dogs age, the valve leaflets become thickened and cannot seal properly, which causes blood to leak backward in the heart and results in a heart murmur, which a veterinarian can detect by listening to the chest with a stethoscope.”
Can bad teeth cause heart murmur in dogs?
The answer is that bacterial from marked dental disease will intermittently lodge in the heart – especially the leaky valves that are causing the murmur. They also reach other body filters like the liver and kidney.
Should I walk my dog if he has a heart murmur?
Short walks are tolerated by most dogs with mild to moderate heart disease, but excessive activity can worsen heart failure or trigger irregular heart rhythms.
What breeds of dogs are prone to heart murmurs?
Commonly Affected Breeds
- Boston Terrier.
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
- Chihuahua.
- Fox Terrier.
- Miniature Pinscher.
- Miniature and Toy Poodles.
- Miniature Schnauzer.
- Pekingese.
Can dogs grow out of heart murmurs?
The murmur may first appear at 6-8 weeks of age, and a puppy with an innocent heart murmur will usually outgrow it by about 4-5 months of age.
Does grain free dog food cause heart murmurs?
DCM is a serious disease that causes the heart to enlarge and beat with less force, potentially causing heart failure. DCM has been found to be associated with dogs fed a grain-free diet, usually with peas and/or lentils. However, all grain-free diets put your dog at an increased risk.
What is the best dog food for a dog with a heart murmur?
Some balanced diets include Royal Canin® Veterinary Diet Canine Cardiac, Rayne Clinical Nutrition™ Restrict-CKD™, or Hill’s® Prescription Diet® h/d®. Your veterinarian will help you determine the most appropriate nutrient profile at each stage of your dog’s heart disease progression.
When should I be concerned about a heart murmur?
When to see a doctor
Most heart murmurs aren’t serious, but if you think you or your child has a heart murmur, make an appointment to see your family doctor. Your doctor can tell you if the heart murmur is innocent and doesn’t require any further treatment or if an underlying heart problem needs to be further examined.
How serious is a heart murmur in an older dog?
The disease is slowly progressive in most cases and the leak will continue to worsen over months to years. If the disease becomes severe, the dog is at risk for developing congestive heart failure.
Do dogs with heart murmurs drink more water?
Heart Problems – General
They often pant or breathe with their mouth open as this is a way of increasing the oxygen in the lungs. They may drink more and because of this wet in the house over night. They will tend to get tired more quickly because the heart is not able to pump blood round to the muscles as well.
Why do heart murmurs cause coughing in dogs?
The most common clinical sign of congestive heart failure (CHF) is persistent coughing accompanied by difficulty breathing. This is due mainly to pulmonary edema or the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. The enlarged heart will also push against the trachea, causing irritation that can induce a cough.
