In my search for a pup from a responsible breeder I have viewed a cardiology report that found upon physical examination a Grade 1-2/6 soft systolic heart murmur in one side of the bitch. The Colar flow Doppler comments indicate "mild pulmonic insufficiency", "no MR or TR", "no aortic insufficiency". In a final assessment section it checks "no congenital heart disease". It also recommended the Holter monitor testing be done, which hasn't been done. Please comment on your experience or knowledge of breeding dogs with a "mild" heart murmur. The bitch was about two years of age when the testing was done, she is over 4 years now. Thank you for any input. I really appreciate the information and frank posts of people here.
Bitch with a systolic Grade 1-2/6 heart murmur?
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Alisha Mobley
Boxer Insane
It sounds as if the bitch is cleared. Even though there is a soft murmur, no congenital heart disease was found...that's what you want to hear. 
A holter score would be nice but as for the doppler results they're perfectly acceptable, imo.
Sorry, I can't be of much help on breeding dogs with mild murmurs other than saying both Ruby's parents are a 1 but Ruby was just dopplered and is a 0.
There are many things that can cause a murmur to be present. All murmurs aren't "bad"...that's why doppler is used, otherwise we couldn't identify the "innocent" murmurs from the "not so innocent".
A holter score would be nice but as for the doppler results they're perfectly acceptable, imo.
Sorry, I can't be of much help on breeding dogs with mild murmurs other than saying both Ruby's parents are a 1 but Ruby was just dopplered and is a 0.
There are many things that can cause a murmur to be present. All murmurs aren't "bad"...that's why doppler is used, otherwise we couldn't identify the "innocent" murmurs from the "not so innocent".
PawPrintBoxers
Banned
Dr Kate Meurs stated in a seminar that approximately 80% of all Boxers have a murmer. A murmer is a "heads up" that needs to be investigated. The investigation to take is a Echocardiogram with a Color Flow Doppler and tested by a Board Certified Cardiologist.Alisha Mobley said:There are many things that can cause a murmur to be present. All murmurs aren't "bad"...that's why doppler is used, otherwise we couldn't identify the "innocent" murmurs from the "not so innocent".
Mouthful, huh?
That is the expert that can tell you clearly if there is a problem with your Boxer's heart structurally or not. And yes, you also do a 24 Hour Holter monitor since it tests for BCM which is not structural.
Between these two tests, you get a good idea of the current condition of a Boxer's heart.
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Christina Ghimenti
PawPrint Boxers
Sunny Northern California
Boxer Champions and Loving Pets
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