Heart Murmur

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=2488
"Hearing a murmur is not a reason to panic.  Many dogs and cats with murmurs live normal lives and never need any treatment for heart disease.   But the only way to know for certain is to work with your veterinarian to determine the cause and severity of the cause of the murmur."

 A good site on heart supplements:  http://www.dogaware.com/health/heart.html

B-Naturals Cardio Pack  -  http://www.b-naturals.com/bnaturals-cardio-pack-4-items-per-pack-p-86.html

This site includes information on prescription drugs for heart problems: http://www.2ndchance.info/conghtfaildog.htm

Many of those drugs require monitoring of the potassium levels and of the kidney function.

What everyone said -- and yes, a heart murmur can "suddenly appear" -- and sometimes it goes away and sometimes not.

An echo is a GREAT place to start.  My Billy had a heart murmur for several years after having IMHA (big blood disease but it does stress the heart).  We had an echo and heart work up done twice a year just to keep track of things and see if the heart enlarged, etc.

You may want to consider hawthorne berry -- it's an herb but it is *widely* used (even most regular vets know what it is and approve) as heart support.  Frankly you don't even have to give the pills -- you can buy it in bulk.  It tastes sorta like dusty strawberries and Billy **liked** it in his food.  I got Billy's at http://www.leavesandroots.com (under "H";).

A heart murmur is where one of the valves kinda stutters as it shuts so there is kind of a whoosh woosh sound as the heart beats (now THAT is an over-simplification).  It is typically "graded" as a 1, 2, 3, 4 -- with 1 lowest and 4 highest.

 HOWEVER -- the grading is extremely subjective -- in fact what one vet may call a 2 another might call a 3 -- but really don't panic.  But DO watch it.

 My dog Z was diagnosed with a Grade 1 heart murmur as a young dog and our vet actually said we didn't need to do anything differently, just make sure we check it at each annual exam to make sure it doesn't worsen.  At our last checkup it could only be heard in one specific place, so it's actually been downgraded a bit - it's there but as mild as it can be.

Might be worth asking the vet what they graded your dog's as.  Did they make any mention of treatment while you were there?

Thank you everyone.

Came back from having the echocardiogram for our Maggie. Her heart murmur is a grade 3. She has Mitral Valve Regurgitation which is secondary to Endocardiosis.

He said as of right now she has a mild to moderate case. No medication as of right now. She can continue to do her regular routine. No diet restrictions but avoid high salt foods. I don't give her much people food. She's on dog food (dry and wet) and dog treats.

He wants us to check her resting respiratory rate when she sleeps. Her respiratory rate should be 20-30 breaths per minute. If it's higher or she showing signs of not acting herself, I need to call him.

He also said in some cases this will get worst to where she will need medication but it other cases it will stay the same and won't get any worst and can live a longer life which is what we're hoping for.

He did bloodwork that he send out. One to check for normal (liver, kidneys, etc) and another one to check stuff to do with her heart.

Her xray she had in June looks good. He wants to see her in 6 months unless things changes with her.

The vet said if it doesn't get worst, Maggie can live a long happy life.

I asked him if there's anything I can do or shouldn't do to keep this from getting worst? He said no, she has a mild case and we just need to keep an eye on it and hope it doesn't get worst. Our goal is to keep her around for another 4 or 5 years and that's what we're hoping for. Please god, answer my prayers. She's my baby!!

 Thank You

Bernice

My vet didn't "suggest" it but he was happy to have me do hawthorneberry as a supplement *and* I always gave Billy Co-Q-10 as a supplement.  Neither is "tested" so if your vet relies only on numbers they may turn up their nose, but of those both are beneficial, easy and not expensive and can help maintain the heart and slow any worsening.  Billy also took Standard Process's "Canine Cardiac Support" which I think was really helpful as well. 

I use a holistic vet in addition to a 'regular' vet and I found it really helpful in preserving his quality of life.

children11

Can a heart murmur not be there one day and then it's there the next day?

I can say that from my experience with my own heart murmur that if I see a new Dr I always tell them I have one because it can be missed if they aren't listening for it because its not very severe.  And, also if I'm sitting up they can almost never hear it but laying down they can.  So, to answer your question, it can seem like its not there one day and is the next but it probably was there the whole time and they just didn't hear it.