Miko has a heart murmur

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

I took Cali to the vet today for her routine shots. All went fine. I had Miko with me, too, because he's been chewing on his front legs lately and I thought it might be an allergy.

While we were talking about this she started giving Miko the once-over (routine exam). She puts the stethoscope to his chest and stays there for a really long time. Then she asked me if I knew that Miko had a serious heart murmur. Of course I didn't. (FYI - he just turned 12)

She said they're graded on a scale 1-6 with 6 being the worst. She said Miko is at least a 4. They're going to start with a chest x-ray and blood pressure monitoring this Friday. If they get definitive data from the x-ray, they'll determine what kind of meds to put him on (she talked about blood pressure meds or a diuretic). If they can't get good data from the x-rays, the next step is an ultrasound done at a local specialty clinic. $$$$$$

As most of you know, Bogey is just recovering from surgery and 9 weeks of chemo. He's tired, I'm tired. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Would someone in the know please tell me what this diagnosis means and is it manageable? Just tell me straight. Lord knows, I can't get a straight answer (at least one I understand) from the vet.

[Moo]

Boy, you never get a break!

A heart murmur is the noise. It is not a diagnosis disease or illness. So that is what additional tests will be for. Don't jump on the panic wagon just yet.

The murmur is when you should hear a heart lub-dub, but instead you hear something like lub-wooosh-dub.

The grade is based on the volume of the extra sounds, which may, or may not be reflective of the severity of a related heart issue.

It could mean many things. If a dog (or person) is excited when a stethoscope is used, their quickly pumping heart may mimick the sounds of a heart murmur when it is not.

A heart murmur may mean that a passage is narrowed, a valve is leaking, or there is a hole in the heart. A murmur given a 3-6 label is usually disease-related.

Good luck, Miko!

[GermanShepherds]

Sorry Debbie. Let us know the updates, God bless and take care.

[Blaze]

I know nothing about heart murmurs, but I'm sorry Miko has one! Please keep us updated!

[pung-yo]

I was born with a heart murmur and so was my bro. There was nothing we could not do. It's not a real big deal. Your dog is getting older, he was just through chemo, so I'm wondering if that could have caused the murmur. Who knows, when he picks up from he chemo and is back to normal the heart murmur will maybe disappear or lessen. If he's still very exhausted, this probably accounts for it. Just keep a close eye on him and should he start coughing you should take him in, to have a check done on his heart. A doc asked me the same thing when I was twenty"did you know you had a heart murmur?" I think so, since I was told I had it since birth. lol.

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

Originally Posted by pung-yo

I was born with a heart murmur and so was my bro. There was nothing we could not do. It's not a real big deal. Your dog is getting older, he was just through chemo, so I'm wondering if that could have caused the murmur. Who knows, when he picks up from he chemo and is back to normal the heart murmur will maybe disappear or lessen. If he's still very exhausted, this probably accounts for it. Just keep a close eye on him and should he start coughing you should take him in, to have a check done on his heart. A doc asked me the same thing when I was twenty"did you know you had a heart murmur?" I think so, since I was told I had it since birth. lol.

The dog who had cancer is a different dog than the one who has a heart murmur.The vet made it sound like it was serious because she said it's a level 4 out of 6, at least.

She asked me if he coughs alot and I said yes, he does definately, but I just thought it was the beginnings of tracheal collapse (very prevelant in tiny dogs). She said no, it was much more likely from the heart murmur. She even said no long walks, games of fetch, jumping on/off furniture, until the tests are finished.

I'm confused.

[dobermom]

Sorry to hear about Miko.

[Dax]

Debbie he isn't showing any other signs of a heart condition is he? Signs include water retention, etc.

Is there a second opinion you can get? That is were I would start. Even if it's just via a phone call.

[Ladida]

Zoe was "diagnosed" with a heart murmur as well. People have given you great advice, but I'll tell you the other symptoms of distress our vet told us: heavy, unusual panting, sudden desire not to work, lethargy, coughing. Zoe is not on any treatment, we are just going back in 6 months, and if it is worse then she will get the $$$$$$ echocardiam!

[micki]

Debbie the vet is going to check to see if it is necessary to prescribe diuretics to avoid fluid around the heart which causes heart failure. My dad has this same type of heart sounds and he takes diuretics to keep the fluid under control.