Cavaliers and heart murmers

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KrujaaLass

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I have a seven year old cavie. Was taken to vet because he was limping. That was sorted. Vet tested his heart said that a heart murmer that was a one in July was now grade two. Advised scan and possibly medication. He has no symptons and is always eager to go out and run around. My daughter has one a year older who had grade one from pup which is now two. He loves to go out but can't keep up with us now. Vet is more worried about my dog as his murmer has progressed quickly. So do we gave both scanned and put on medication or do you wait for any symptons. Meds will cost £40 each per dog per month. Don't mind paying as pay out much more for horses but don't want them on medication unless it's really necessary. Gave us drops for his ear from vet £23 on line about six pound. Also they have both now got an eye that does not blink and a bit droopy side. Vets don't know what this is. Gave us gel for £20 which cost us £7 for 3 tubes. Any views please
 
Heart murmurs are really subjective - get a second opinion. I have known of many dogs who have been diagnosed with a heart murmur, only for another vet to say they don't have one.

Is your dog insured BTW? A scan seems unnecessary at this stage IMHO, and if he isn't showing any symptoms (lethargy and dry cough are the most common) I wouldn't be rushing to put him on medication personally.
 
Thanks levrier, no either dog is insured. That was my first reaction to get second opinion. What I might do is go for check up at pets at home and not say anything about previous vet. We are happy with them in other ways
 
Lévrier;13420082 said:
Heart murmurs are really subjective - get a second opinion. I have known of many dogs who have been diagnosed with a heart murmur, only for another vet to say they don't have one.

Is your dog insured BTW? A scan seems unnecessary at this stage IMHO, and if he isn't showing any symptoms (lethargy and dry cough are the most common) I wouldn't be rushing to put him on medication personally.
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I totally agree that if your dog is not symptomatic I wouldn't treat with medication. My old CKCS was diagnosed with a heart murmur at 7 and she didn't need medication until she developed a cardiac cough at 11. The best thing is to keep them trim weight wise and as fit as possible. Juno was competing in agility until she was 10. She passed away at 14years old
 
I went to a very interesting talk on heart murmurs in horses and the main point made was that if there are no other symptoms then heart murmurs aren't really considered a problem. I would imagine a similar approach could be taken with dogs and if your dogs aren't showing symptoms then you shouldn't be too concerned. Fwiw I discovered I had heart murmur in my 30s , it had never caused me a problem and still hasn't and I am now 61.
 
I would not take the advice of unqualified strangers over a trained professinal in this matter. If I was going for a second opinion which you should do if you have any doubts I wouldn't go 'cheap andcheerful' I would go and see a senior vet with experience in the heart specifically to get the best answers.
 
MurphysMinder said:
I went to a very interesting talk on heart murmurs in horses and the main point made was that if there are no other symptoms then heart murmurs aren't really considered a problem. I would imagine a similar approach could be taken with dogs and if your dogs aren't showing symptoms then you shouldn't be too concerned. Fwiw I discovered I had heart murmur in my 30s , it had never caused me a problem and still hasn't and I am now 61.
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Quite a lot of animals do suffer from heart murmurs and the most can get on ok. However mitral valve disease is the leading cause of death in cavaliers. Most will suffer from it at some point in their lifetime, it is progressive and can worsen quite quickly.

OP - go for a second opinion if it would put your mind at rest, but I would go to a vet that maybe specialises or has an interest in cardiology, rather than pets at home staff (unless you are talking about vets for pets inside a pets at home?). Some vets don't put them on heart meds until they are showing clinical signs. A grade 2 heart murmur isn't hugely significant and can be subjective between vets, but worth keeping a close eye on. Ask about getting a written prescription so you can get the meds online if cheaper.
 
Quite frankly I'm astonished any cavalier survives beyond the age of a few weeks old with all the conditions they are supposed to suffer from - I've known hundreds of cavaliers over the past 35 years and I can recall one which died from mitral valve disease....

I totally accept that heart disease is widespread in the breed, but my experiences suggest that it is generally very manageable. I have also found that there are a significant number of 'doom and gloom' vets who are likely to condemn any cavalier as soon as it walks into their surgery because of course it must be suffering from every genetically inherited disease going :(
 
My old cav had a heart murmur from very young. It got worse quickly at the age of about 11 years old. My vet didn't treat as there were no symptoms. Had him pts at the age of 14 (nothing to do with his heart).
 
Co incidentally just had a phone call from the vet where my dog having his MRI. This has thrown up a heart murmer, he'd done in for scan on his neck and spine ! My dog has no symptoms, not picked up by my own vet when he was anaesthetised for x rays. Recommendation he has an ultra sound in 6 months !

Another problem that I wouldn't be insured for, he'd practically be excluded for everything now !
 
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Sorry to. Hear about your dog snuffles. That's all you needed. Got same diagnosis today. Vet said he's really in good condition. No urgency leave scans till new year. Hope your poor dog comes right
 
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