My Blue Heeler was diagnosed with a heart murmur. It doesn't seem to slower her down though. Anybody have experience with an active dog with a heart murmer?
Hi Alicia! I'm sorry about your dog's heart murmur. I really think your best bet for advice on these things would be to contact a vet or animal doctor with a background in this field. Best of luck!
You need a veterinary cardiologist. There are all kinds of cardiac issues in dogs; a cardiologist will be able to do a simple auscultation and maybe an ultrasound and can tell you exactly what the cause is/how to proceed. Murmurs in dogs are common, and a specialist will put your mind at rest.
Here's a list by state: http://www.cavalierhealth.org/Cardiologists.htm#Click_on_a_state%3C/p%3E (http://www.cavalierhealth.org/Cardiologists.htm#Click_on_a_state)
I'll end by saying that most vets (and this is not meant as a criticism) are not well-versed in cardiac issues. It's best to go to a cardiologist and get a firm diagnosis/assessment/treatment plan (if one is necessary). An auscultation is very reasonable. Take care, and good luck with your dog!
I'd suggest asking your veterinarian what "https://www.vetary.com/dog/condition/heart-murmurs (grade)" of murmur you're dealing with. If she hasn't already suggested surgery in the case of a valve defect, or a diet modification, we can assume the grade isn't very high (I/II).
A veterinarian cardiologist will be able to expand further on exercise restrictions (whether on the phone or in-person), especially if the grade is further up the scale. The majority of low-grade cases call for simple diet changes and less extreme exercise which is then monitored weekly for progression.
A lot depends on the severity of the murmur. If it's very mild, your dog may not have any problems until she is older, if ever. Your veterinarian is probably your best bet at finding out how careful you need to be with her level of exercise.
My 13 yr old Aussie was diagnosed with a heart murmur two years ago when I first fostered him. Vet told me it was rated a 3 on scale of 1 to 6. He said as dog got older it would probably get worse and dog would have to go on an expensive heart medication (human kind) to keep him alive. He suggested I may NOT want to keep dog permanently due to the expense involved. But aaw - it was too late for that I was already in love with Harley and vowed to do whatever it took to make sure he had the longest high quality life possible. I was introduced to a supplement "Canine Health" by a physician friend of mine. He said it would help Harley and all 5 of my other pets with the aging process and problems associated with it .....I decided to try it just for their general health, since I had utmost faith in my physician friend. After four mos of taking "Canine Health" - two pills a day which Harley loved and ate like a treat - we visited the vet again - they examined him every 6 mos due to murmur - this time was a little different vet kept sounding Harley through stethoscope over and over again - my heart was pounding I felt he was going to say - it's time for the heart medication - but was I surprised when the vet stopped listening to his heart and said" The murmur either has substantially improved or has disappeared because I cannot hear it at all. I was blown away -I then went home and did some research on the internet on heart murmurs - cause I couldn't believe it - can they improve or disappear without surgery???? Sure enough, I found that murmurs can at times disappear when an underlying problem which was causing it is treated. I then figured it out - the "Canine Health" rejuevenated something within his system that enabled that leaky valve to heal. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.! If you would like to discuss write me at elsie.fewer1@verizon.net.
awesome news gonna give it a try!!!
I'm looking for the same answers. my mutt and I walk really fast for 2 to 3 miles everyday