Heart Murmurs

[TicTac]

Does any body else's horse have one? My little grey boy who I have had for 6 years has a grade 4 heart murmur. I can't remember the exact diagnosis but it a left valve problem which apparently is less of a problem than a right.

He failed the pre purchase vetting because of it but I bought him anyway and to be honest he has had no problems whatsoever. We were told that it is not a ' drop down dead' problem. However when he does strenuous excercise he does puff very heavily and I am always careful not to over do it with him, as he does have his limitation fitness wise. (although he often has other idea's of his own like today!)

I was advised to keep him in regular work , which I do even if it is lunging . He is 11 now. Can anybody tell me what I can expect from him as he gets older? Obviously I will let him tell me, but he always seems to have more energy than any of the other horses at the yard!

 

[Pancakes]

my horse has a heart murmur but only a grade one so very mild. i just got told i could never do anything of high intensity exercise eg. eventing (highly unlikely anyway seen as he has a phobia of xcountry fences

).
nothing major to worry about i just get my horses heart checked annually when he has his vaccinations to make sure it hasnt got worse

 

[Aru]

as far as i no a heart murmur shouldnt get worse as the horse gets olderhave you asked this in vet section?some of the HHo online vets should no for def if a grade 4 can get worst...it tink it also depends on which valve is affected tho...

 

[Divasmum]

I have known a horse to develop a murmur and for it to disappear a few months later. .Apparently it can happen if they pick up a virus. I think your best bet is to have it checked each year when the vet comes to do jabs and keep the exercise regime going as it is. If the problem gets any worse then it would probably be wise to have it checked twice a year. There are an awful lot of horses out there leading useful lives with a murmur.

 

[sam1am]

Pancakes i cant believe you were told cant do strenuous work, please get a second opinion as loads of race horses have murmers and a horse i produced just started competing 2* eventing with a grade 2 murmer with no side effects!!!!
And yes they do dissapear!
Now i would never let a murmer put me off a horse, in fact i know of a couple of 4* event horses with murmers not sure what grade though, so please dont let it worry you.
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