Kensa's Heart Murmur

[Scranny_Ann]

I was told a few months ago that Kensa (My Yellow Lab) has a heart mumrur. She was at the vets for routine jabs and when checking her over the vet casually said "oh she's got a heart murmur" and then carried on chatting

. I did ask about it and how it would affect her but she was very vague and didn't really seem interested. Kensa is a working dog and always seems to get out of breath very quickly even though she is reasonably fit (or should be for the amount of exercise she gets).

Does anyone else have any experience of this that could give me more info please? I worry she's in pain or some sort of discomfort

although she never seems to want to stop working or gets lazy.

Maybe i'm worrying too much, if it was that much of a problem surely the vet would have said?

Please help!! Thanks x

 

[dozzie]

I think the fitter she is kept the better. We had one who lived to 13 with a HM and was fine. We also had one who was pts at 3. So it is difficult to say. The one we had pts had a serious problem and we would find him out cold from time to time. I think many dogs live happy lives with a heart murmur as do many horses. I think you just have to keep an eye out for other symptoms to see if it is affecting her.

 

[Acolyte]

Dont worry too much - I have had loads of dogs with heart murmurs (although admittedly not labradors) and they have mostly lived to a good age. In fact my whippet was 15

The thing which, to me, signals that medication is needed is the start of the heart cough (a kind of dry cough, which I think arises from fluid on the lungs) - but your vet would be able to advise if you are worried.

The fact that he seemed unconcerned suggests to me that it is a low grade murmur

 

[Scranny_Ann]

thanks for the advice, i will continue with her working as i have been and keep a close eye for any unusual activities (such as the cough) and speak to the vet as and when i need to.

Thanks again!

xx