Heart Murmur in a pup

[lizzylulu]

One of the pups has come back to Mum. It was the runt of the litter, not overly tiny but you could tell he was smaller. I called him my little runt man. Anyway back to the point of the post the people that had him took him to the vet for his jabs and the vet found that he has a heart murmur. Mum said you can feel his little heart beating really fast. So obviously he can't be sold now. He is going to our vet tomorrow and hopefully he will be ok.

Anyone had any experience in this. I am heartbroken - I don't want anything bad to happen to him

 

[BuzzLightyear]

my boxer pup was diagnosed with a heart murmour when he was 3 months old- our vet referred us to a cardiologist who listened more carefully and advised that the murmour would improve with age (as the restriction becomes lessened as the dog grows). Things that could be a sign that things are more serious are lethargy and fainting, none of which my pup has ever displayed - i wouldnt panic too much he may well be fine - vet said that murmors dont necesarily affect the quality of the dogs life

am sure your puppy will be fine

 

[lizzylulu]

Mum has just told me that apparently the other peoples vet had given little runt man 3 months to live

Hopefully our vet will have some better news.

Thanks for your input Buzz xx

 

[Booboos]

From personal experience I would not trust a local vet with such a diagnosis as it is difficult and they don't see many of them, I would take your puppy to a specialist (we were told our dog had weeks to live because of a lung tumour, which was in fact an enlarged heart because of a heart murmur - she is on medication, but is doing fine!). Murmurs in young puppies often are not very serious and clear up in 4-6 months, it will depend on the severity of the murmur. The vet diagnosing should have told you the grade of the murmur, on a scale from 1 to 6. A pronounced murmur can be indicative of congenital heart disease, but it is rare. You would then need a specialist to diagnose the exact nature of the problem, but if the puppy has the severe form you will need to know for breeding purposes as these cases are usually hereditary.

Hugs and vibes for the little puppy!

 

[lizzylulu]

He was given grade 5........

 

[Booboos]

Oh Lizzylulu I am so sorry to hear that! I would still try a specialist though. My dog has a grade 5 murmur, she is on medication which can be costly but has been fine for three years, so perhaps there is something they can do?

 

[BuzzLightyear]

i agree with BB - try and get a referral from your vet to see a specialist. It cost me about £90 for the appoinment with the caridologist but he was a lot more helpful with than the vet and explained about the issue and possible options.
It may well improve with age.


Hugs for the puppy xxx

 

[lizzylulu]

Thanks guys, will see what happens tomorrow. My Step dad has just called though and told me that the pup is with them for life now, however long that is! Bless he is a right big softie.

I will keep you updated xxx

 

[kibob]

Ah poor pup, I've no experience so can't offer any advise. I can, however, send HUGE vibes, hoping for the best possible outcome x

 

[MurphysMinder]

What a shame. No experience of heart murmur in pups (although I have one myself), but did have a puppy who suffered myocarditis (sp?, damage to the heart muscle) as a result of parvo and she lived until she was 11. Would echo what everyone else says, ask your vet to refer you to a specialist who hopefully will be able to give you some answers. Nice to know the little chap has a home for life anyway, obviously you are very caring breeders.

 

[Acolyte]

I agree with what others have said - get a second opinion. I have known of CKCS puppies being returned due to heart murmurs, which cleared up within a few weeks.

 

[lizzylulu]

What grade were the murmurs Acolyte, do you know? Your mum breeds them doesn't she?

ETS - This little man is a CKCS x Springer

 

[Acolyte]

Sorry I dont know - this wasnt one of hers, she would be as horrified as you are if this happened to anything she had bred as she is ultra-careful about potential inherited conditions etc.

Poor little puppy, hope he turns out to be OK

 

[lizzylulu]

Well the bitch involved will not be having pups again as she is just not meant to after having 2 c sections. And we are letting the people who have the male know just in case they are thinking about breeding from him again.

 

[sarahmcken]

Dog heart murmur is the abnormal blood flow inside the heart. This site give really good info on dog heart murmur symptoms . So you should read it. ^_^

 

[suzyseymour]

I have a rescue Jack Russel, who I got at 6 months. He was very poorly when I got him with quite a few things. He was diagnosed with a grade 5 heart murmur, caused by narrowings of not one, but both of the main arteries going away from his heart. Lukily I have a fantatstic vet, who is also a heart specialist. At 6 months I was told, we would get him to 2 and see how he was doing. Well he's 4 now and still going strong!! Does exactly the same as my other dog. Long walks, agaility, classes. He does have the odd couple of weeks here and there when he's not so good. But they are few and far between, we just rest him.

Would definately back up, what others have said about heart specialists, if he is poorly I don't take him to any of the other vets at the practice.

 

[bt1609]

Hi,
am a vet nurse - would def suggest u get him referred to a cardiologist as they will be able to assess the murmur fully. Puppies can be born with a condition called patent ductus arteriosis which means theres an abnormal vessel present. The murmur they have sounds like a steam train and its v obvious, so it could be if the murmur is grade 5 but then i'd have thought the vet would be able to recognize it from listening, but not 100% sure. There are other reasons for pups to have bad murmurs and although this condition isnt that common generally its prob one of the more common murmurs in pups. Surgically treatable but major surgery. I hope you can find the cause of the murmur - good luck.