Heart Murmurs??? Cardiologist?

    • Gold Top Dog

    Heart Murmurs??? Cardiologist?

    Dweezil went to the vet today because of an allergic reaction.  The vet, one whom we've never seen before (one of the non-primary vets at the office) saw us for the "emergency" appointment.  She listened to Dweezil's heart, twice, and said she heard a murmur, but in our records, when Dweezil went in for kennel cough in September, our primary vet did not record a murmur.  This new vet recommended that we see a cardiologist.  Dweezil has just turned 1 year old, and she said that if it had been something she was born with, the vets probably would have caught it before, but that our normal vet could have missed it.  She also said if it was a puppy murmur, it would have been gone by now, and perhaps she has heart disease.  I am planning to wait until February for her annual checkup with our primary vet, and see if she detects a heart murmur, and decide where to go from there. 
     
    Does anyone know anything about heart murmurs?  Could the vet have made a mistake -- Dweezil had had two benedryls already, was very excited to be there, etc. 
    • Gold Top Dog
    there are all sorts of murmurs and lots of dog live their entire life with them and have no problem...I personally would wait till your regular vet checks it the next visit...However if any cardiac symptons, like syncopy, tiring rapidly, cough etc then get a furthur check...But I have seen 16 year old dogs with a low grade murmur...just don;t tell your dog she has a murmur so she won;t have something to worry about
    • Gold Top Dog
    just don;t tell your dog she has a murmur so she won;t have something to worry about

     
    lol, thanks.  :o)  i haven't yet seen any symptoms (and hope I won't) -- she definitely has energy for days.  after a 30 minute walk, there's a two minute plop down on the cold kitchen floor ... then it's time to dive off of the couches again.  "tiring quickly" is like .... being lethargic, right?  because that's definitely not the case, she does quick quick sprints then tires out for a little bit then goes back at it, but she's a small dog (20lbs) with short legs, so I just assumed that's always been normal?  (obviously, i'm paranoid now, haha)  but, I agree.  waiting till Feb sounds good, and if they hear anything, we'll go from there.