Level 1 heart murmur

[dutch'smommy]

I jsut got my first boxer yesterday!! I was so excited to bring him home. But then I noticed that he had very bad diarrhea, and a runny nose and runny eyes. So I brought him to an Emergency vet (he is only 6 wks) turns out he has worms (coccidia) and an upper respitory viral infection. That was the good news. Then the vet told me that he has a level 1 heart murmur. He said that it may correct on it's own. But I am still very worried. I am a new mommy and I was just wondering if anyone out there has had/has the same defect.
He is a great puppy and has a great personality. The "breeder" (I use this lightly, who sends a sick puppy to his new home and doesnt have him dewormed) said that if he dies she will replace him. But I want HIM. Please help me understand this situation and give me some ideas as to what to expect. Thank you.

 

[courtney323]

dutch'smommy -

Per the RULES, you need to post your Introduction before you continue to post elsewhere on this site.

Puppies should not leave their litter before 8 weeks of age, and in some states it is actually illegal to do so. This, among the various health issues that can arise from an irresponsible breeding, is why it is so important to do research and make sure that you buy only from a responsible breeder.

Here is a great article on the health testing that your breeder should do: http://www.boxerworld.com/health_testing/

That being said, your Vet is correct in that the pup could outgrow his heart murmer. Good luck with your pup

 

[Tucker's Mom]

My father's boxer had a heart murmer, and he did in fact grow out of it.

 

[MygirlJT]

Remain calm

Congratulations on your new puppy. Boxers are so wonderful. Don't panic at this point (or at any point.) There are no guarantees in life, but I understand that all puppies have worms at some point, and you are following the vets directions and that's all you can do, right? Of course, pray - and that's no small thing. You are doing what you should do. Hopefully someone who knows more will post and help you with something more practical, but I just wanted to post and at least encourage you to relax, do what the vet says, and enjoy Dutch. Better he's in a good home where he will be cared for, right? No guarantees, but probably you are going to have him for many more years to come. Update us, okay? V

 

[apollosdad]

when my boxer was eight weeks old and the breeder took him to the vet for his final medical exam/health certificate before he released and sold him to me, apollo was diagnosed as having a "slight" heart murmur. the vet explained to me that it might be due to the boxer's deep chested anatomy, she explained that while their hearts are developing hearts sometimes rub against their rib cage and cause what is sometimes diagnosed as a "false reading" heart murmur. the breeder is a very reputable breeder and besides offering a great guarantee, also had copies of all the medical exams both parents had done for heart, hips, etc. after i brought him home i took him to my vet the following week and he did notice any heart murmur. so it is possible that he/she will outgrow it in time.

 

[jbennett]

Dutch's Mommy

Yes, it's true all puppies at one time or another have worms. Also, it is quite possible he will grow out of the heart murmur too.

My puppy is 13 weeks old and my breeder (in Missouri) took him to the vets before she sent him off to me in California. She gave all her puppies their shots and also dewormed them. Come to find out she did the tail docking and dew claws too!

Good luck on your new puppy and enjoy him!

Joanne
Northern California

 

[kelseymoore]

we also just brought home a 6 week pup a week ago and when we took her to the vet, they told us that she had a level 2 heart murmur..our vet told us that they do indeed normally grow out of the murmur when it is that low on the scale (1-10) and they being so small...they call it a pediatric murmur..so that is what we are hoping with ours and i am sure that it is the same case with your pup! we are just to continue to treat her like a normal puppy and give her lots of love, which is sounds as if you are doing wonderfully!

 

[Alisha Mobley]

on the scale (1-10)

The scale a murmur is usually rated on is 1-6.

It is possible for a puppy to grow out of a murmur, it is also possible for the murmur to get worse with age. A GP vet is not the best at grading murmurs...they can be way off. The only full proof way to know what's going on with a murmur is to see a cardiologist. With that said, I wouldn't rush a young puppy to the cardiologist over a murmur that has been graded as a 1...even if the vet doing the grading is only a GP. I'd wait it out a bit and see what it does with age.