Heart Murmur - Can any supplements help?

[Archie73]

Hi
I have recently bought a 6yo 17hh warmblood gelding with a 1/6 holistic heart murmer.

I am not worried about this but I wondered if there are any supplements that I should be feeding that may aid his condition (although it is unoticeable).

Thanks in advance

 

[kildalton]

If horses are like humans, no there's nothing you can give, just make sure he's kept at an optimum weight. Some murmurs are benign, without an echocardiogram, it's impossible to say how significant they are.

 

[bailey14]

Try this link. I think you mean a holosystolic murmur. This is marked up to grade six with one being very mild to six being very significant. This link might help you.


http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:_NA...clnk&gl=uk.

 

[Archie73]

Thanks applecart.....yes my murmer is not very holy ;-)

Thanks, I have read a lot of stuff like this before purchse (not sure how much I actually understand!), really I just wondered if other then keeping him the correct weight and well excercised should I be adding garlic ect to his feed? I know it wont really help but it might promote a healthy system which in turn could help?

He is fed on 1 stubbs scoop d&h build up mix and 1 scoop alfa a oil 3 x a day plus 30g salt a day. feeding advice from both D& H nutrionist and vet.

 

[BigRed]

Out of interest, why aren't you worried, did a vet say he didn't think it would be a problem ?

 

[Archie73]

Tracey01

I had him 5star vetted by a heart specialist, who passed him for jumping-no problem, also I have known about 10 competion horses with heart murmers over the years including a pony I learnt to jump on that won 1979 or 1976 Junior champion of GB (not with me-obviusly) who lived to 32 with the same condition.

Also around I think 70-80% of race horses have murmers.

Hope that satisfys your curiousity!

Thanks for the interest

 

[BigRed]

I wasn't being funny...

I looked at a horse a couple of years ago that I really liked. He had a grade 5 heart murmur. He had been eventing but wasn't good enough. My own vet told me to keep away from him and I found that two insurance companies wouldn't insure him.

So thanks, my curiosity is satisfied. I hope you find a supplement to cure him.

 

[Archie73]

Hi Tracey

Sorry I really did not think you were being funny, apologies if it read like that!!

I would not touch a horse with a grade five either! Mine is only a a grade 1.x
I wish I could find a supplement to cure him but unfortunatley there is no such thing! All i'm looking for is things that may aid a healthy heart...you know like how we are advised to eat garlic for ours.

But really thanks, I 'm new on here and its all a bit intimidating!

 

[ForeverBroke_]

Grade 5 is a really strong heart murmur with 6 being the highest rating you can get. My boys grade 2 and is still passed for eventing , riding club activities etc etc

he's odd though as it's only apparent when he's resting

I honestly wouldn't worry about a grade 1

xx

(sorry, im not very good with the whole advice thing )

 

[teddyt]

Hawthorn is very good for the circulation and heart

 

[jenh166]

Intensity of the murmur does not always correlate to severity of condition. It depends which valve the murmumr is originating from as to how serious it is/could be! Do you know which valve is afftected in your boy?

 

[ESH]

Can the severity of heart murmurs be diagnosed by listening? Just wondering as to why the vets keep insisting on a scan for my foal.

 

[kildalton]

The only way to see how severe the murmur is is with an echocardiogram. I guess a holosystolic /pan systolic murmur indicates the mitral valve may be involved, but you can have innocent flow murmurs, sometimes the structure of the septum causes turbulence and sounds funny, but is of no significance. As Bean 88 says, the loudness of the murmur is no indication of severity.

 

[Archie73]

Hi
Thanks for all your comments!

Teddyt, I will investigate the hawthorne as this was the kind of advice I was hoping to receive.

With regard to his murmer, yes the miteral valve is involved Kidalton / Bean 88 but as I said, I am not worrried about this as the vets have more then satisfied me before purchase on this but it is very nice to know you are all so experienced and available to offer advice.

Thank to Darcylu for the support!

Have a lovely weekend

 

[Maggie2]

I bought one with a mild HM (no idea of grades, probably before it was classified with a grading system) and the vet said that as it improved on exercise then go ahead. I did all RC stuff with her before I sold her on, and she lived to a ripe old age.