Heart murmur

[tommyjake]

my 9 year old sheltie has a grade 2 heart murmur. Does anybody know more about this problem?

[sambucca/whiskey]

Not in dogs, I had one when I was born it is an irregular heart beat.

[MarioLuigi]

http://www.vetinfo.com/dmurmur.html

[gingerlovedog]

Hello,

Saw your article on a dog site...felt compelled to write.

My dog, Ginger, was diagnosed with a heart murmor 3 yrs ago (she's 11 now). Well, the murmur has progressed to barely alive. She is coughing all the time, and has had a few fainting spells. The vet put her on a enalapril for over a month now. It seems to help right afterwards, but then her cough returns each day.

I think her days are numbered. She's really struggling for oxygen.

Any advice?

Thanks!

[ohmai]

I think if your dog is genuinely struggling to survive and is in pain, that isn't really an ideal life. It is hard for people who love their pets to decide when to euthanise them, and sometimes feel compelled to live with them through this. I've never been in the situation before so I really know nothing of how you're feeling. But I guess it's whatever you think is right, right?