heart murmur in active 5 yr old. xray?

[Joe Beam]

Vet heard a grade 2 heart murmur in my 5 year old Tula. She is very active and never coughs. Vet wanted a chest x-ray done. Should I get the xray? How effective is an xray at detecting any problems? Maybe go to a cardiologist for the Doppler?

This was Tula's first time at our new vet. Our previous vet never heard anything...but I'm a little suspect on his abilities...so I really don't know how long Tula has had the murmur.

Thanks

 

[Jan]

I would get a second opinion. Most vets are not capable of determining the grade of a heart murmur. I don't think an x-ray would tell you much.

Good luck!

 

[Joe Beam]

Second opinion from another vet? or a cardiologist?

 

[Jan]

A cardiologist would probably be best, but would be more expensive. It all depends on how much faith you have in the first vet and whether you think she really does have a heart murmur.

 

[ELubas]

Personally I would go to a cardiac vet. Too much heart trouble in this breed to take any chances...