Canine Heart Murmurs: Expert Veterinary Insight by Elizabeth Racine, DVM and Emily Oliver, CVT - Updated on 01/09/2024. (Shareable on Facebook, Twitter, Email)
Whenever you take your furry friend to the vet for an annual check-up, you likely expect the usual jabs, tests, and perhaps a few updated vaccinations. But, if your vet happens to listen to your dog's chest with a stethoscope and notes an unusual sound, it might just be a heart murmur.
A heart murmur is an extra sound heard during the heart's beating rhythm that could indicate a problem with the organ's functionality. These abnormal sounds are caused by turbulent blood flow through the heart and can be an early warning sign of illness, even before any noticeable symptoms appear.
But, don't panic! Heart murmurs are common in dogs, and understanding what they mean can help you keep your canine companion healthy.
What are the common causes of heart murmurs in dogs?
More often than not, heart murmurs in older dogs are due to myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), where the heart's valve becomes thickened and leaky, causing blood to flow backward. There are also congenital defects, such as patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), which affects certain breeds and results in abnormal blood flow. Moreover, conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, or subaortic stenosis can also lead to murmurs.
What symptoms should you look out for?
In the early stages, most dogs with mild heart murmurs (grades 1 and 2) usually have no symptoms. But, as the condition worsens, your dog may show signs such as coughing, especially at night, exercise intolerance, labored breathing or rapid breathing, loss of appetite or weight loss, fainting, collapse, lethargy, or weakness.
How are heart murmurs treated in dogs?
In many cases, dogs with mild heart murmurs may not require treatment right away. Ideally, they'll need regular exercise, a healthy weight, and prompt veterinary care to help slow the disease's progression.
For more advanced or symptomatic cases, treatment options can include medications such as diuretics, ACE inhibitors, pimobendan, or oxygen therapy. In rare cases, surgery may be necessary to correct congenital defects like PDA.
What are the costs associated with treating heart murmurs in dogs?
The cost of treating heart murmurs in dogs can vary greatly depending on the severity of the condition and any ongoing medications needed. Average expenses in the first year for treating a dog's heart murmur range from $100 to $300 for initial examinations and diagnoses to $30 to $200 per month for medications, depending on the drug type and dose. If surgery is required, costs can run from $1,000 to $5,000.
If unexpected veterinary bills trigger worries about how to pay, consider using credit cards specifically designed for pets, like CareCredit. These allow you to pay over time with flexible financing options, use the card again and again for various pet care needs, and are accepted at most veterinary hospitals.
Science plays a crucial role in understanding and addressing heart murmurs in pets, aiding health-and-wellness and fitness-and-exercise routines for dogs. For instance, studies have highlighted common causes such as myxomatous mitral valve disease, congenital defects, and various heart conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
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