heart murmur concern

[epotapov]

Reccently I went to the vet and they said that Charley has a heart murmur but on a scale of 1 to 6 it's only a 1, but I heard that must heart murmurs that are not serious go away by 4 months and Charley is almost 6. Has anyone had heart murmurs turn into something serious? What are possible consequenes of this condition?

 

[tmdonn4]

Hi -- I was just posting a questions on hert murmurs and saw yours. I have read as much as I can about murmurs, but I like you would like first hand advice from people. Most say that a puppy can grow out of it, especially when they are on the lower grade 1 scale, but I'm not sure at what age they can still grow out of it or at what age it's there to stay. It's scary I know. I'm petrified that when he's out he's just going to collapse. Hopefully we will get some good advice here. I can tell you, no matter what the outcome, I could not love this little guy any more. and would not give him up or back or anything. he's the best.

 

[x19er]

We have had a boxer with a low grade heart murmer - the vet found it when he was very young, it never went away nor got any worse. The advice the vet gave us was to keep him slim & as fit as possible and not to exercise him when it was very hot. The vet checked his heart whenever he was there but that it was it. I know how scary it is when you are first told, I can remember that feeling as clear as if it were yesterday of holding my wee boy as the vet told me. But at the end of the day none of us know how long our dogs will be with us so we decided to stop worrying, not wrap him up in cotton wool and let him boxer burn to his hearts content. He lived to be 10 years old and following the vets advice his heart never gave him any trouble.

His name was Connor:

www.boxerworld.com/photo/showphoto.php/photo/58001/cat/500/ppuser/43029

 

[gmacleod]

A heart murmur that is as low as a grade 1 is likely to be innocent. But if you have concerns or want a proper diagnosis of it (including, actually, an accurate grading) then you need to see a board certified cardiologist. A standard vet doesn't even have the tools, let alone the training, to make a diagnosis.

 

[ELubas]

Agree with gmacleod-a cardiac vet should evaluate the murmur and then you will also have a good baseline to monitor it going forward. As Boxers are a breed that are prone to heart trouble it would be wise to be pro active here. On the flip side I have a boy with a grade 4 murmur that was diagnosed at 6mos and he is going strong at 5 years

 

[GINO]

On the flip side I have a boy with a grade 4 murmur that was diagnosed at 6mos and he is going strong at 5 years

That gives me hope ELubas
My boy was diagnosed at 8 1/2 wks old with a grade 3, which is now closer to a 4. I could only hope he would be around that long. The cardiologist said we would be lucky to see his 2 birthday. However, we don't restrict Gino at all. I want whatever life he has left to be fullfilling. He is now 9 mo old next week and there's no way you can tell he has a heart condition.

 

[ELubas]

I did the same-at first Hubby and I were definetely at odds over this but quality of life for a dog is so basic and as long as he wanted to go I needed to let him. I see Frazier pace himself now that he is a bit older but he still is loving life and will break into a sprint every now and then My vets think maybe the joy he has had in his life-and his meds of course-have actually extended his life-regardless he has enjoyed every minute and I would not trade him for anything-so anyway Fraze and i have agreed that he will live forever! And I hope and wish for the same for your sweet boy

 

[Lola's mum]

Our last dog had a heart murmur and we were only told when she was 16 yrs old (she lived to almost 18yrs old) at a check up. I couldn't believe that the vets hadn't ever picked it up before.
I felt terrible that I wasn't aware of it and started to feel guilty about over exercising her through out her life etc etc but as the vet pointed out it hadn't done her any harm.
The vet picked one up on Lola at her first check over appointment but no other vet has since so she may have 'grown out of it'.

 

[ELubas]

18 years!!!!!!!!!!!! That is amazing-I can only hope and pray my babies live that long

 

[Lola's mum]

Well she was 2 weeks away from being 18 when she was put to sleep, she wasn't a boxer though but a Collie. Lola missed her terribly, she didn't eat for days and moped around, our vet even said if she continued they could give her a mild sedative :eek: That was when we decided to get Zebedee.