New owner of a pup with a heart murmur

MarshMS · 12-13-2006, 07:05 PM

Hello, we are the new owners of a delightful little 8 week old F1 labradoodle Amanda.

On her vet check-up the day after we got her, we learned that she has a heart murmur. The vet said it is probably a PDA and it will go away, but there are no guarantees. The vet said the murmur is very quiet, she could have missed it and it's probably why the vet who checked her out before leaving the breeder didn't catch it. Has anyone had a pup with a murmur? Did it go away? How concerned should we be?

dixiedi · 12-13-2006, 07:26 PM

Welcome to the forum

It is not unusual for a puppy to have a heart murmur and 9 times out of 10, they will go away. Your vet does not sound alarmed about it so I think you can be at peace with it. Your vet will check Amanda on your next visit when you go in for your 12 wk shot and I bet she will be murmur free. Have fun with your new puppy and post a picture when you get a chance, we'd love to see her.

MarshMS · 12-13-2006, 09:33 PM

Thanks so much for your response.
I am very nervous about this but am trying not to let it affect my happiness with the pup.
The vet talked about a cardiac work-up if the murmur is still there in a few weeks, and honestly the worry about another financial hit from seeing the specialist and having an ultrasound done has us very concerned.
Should I contact the breeder about this? Would he be willing to pay for any tests do you think?

kim26 · 12-13-2006, 09:41 PM

Welcome MarshMS and I'm sorry to hear that your pup has a heart murmur. I hope Di is right and the murmer will be gone at your next visit. I would definitely contact the breeder and find out if they would be willing to help out. Did you get a health guarantee of any kind? I'm sure the breeder would want to know right away if something is wrong rather than later. Maybe some of the breeders on here can give you some good advice.

dixiedi · 12-13-2006, 09:41 PM

I really don't think it is going to be an issue but I would definately contact the breeder and let them know that your puppy has a heart murmur and that your vet is going to recheck her in a few weeks. I don't know what kind of contract you have but any reputable breeder would be very willing to pay for any test that is needed. Just be sure to notify your breeder of what is going on and give them the name of your vet and phone number so they can call and talk with him.

I'm sure all is going to be fine, keep us posted

Jac · 12-14-2006, 12:11 AM

I would also go to a regular vet first, for a second opinion...sometimes there can be a misdiagnosis. Before putting so much money into specialists, I'd get that second opinion.
And, as a breeder, I would refund money to cover costs...if it truly is serious enough to go to the specialists.
Sorry you are so frightened and facing such possibility...I hope it all turns out okay for you, your pup and your breeder.

MarshMS · 01-03-2007, 03:45 PM

Great news! Amanda's heart murmur is gone!

kim26 · 01-03-2007, 03:53 PM

Yay! That's wonderful!

dixiedi · 01-03-2007, 04:22 PM

WooHoo

I know you are very relieved by this news, that's wonderful.

What a way to start the New Year

Jac · 01-03-2007, 04:23 PM

I am so happy to hear this news! You must be thrilled...congratulations to you and to little Amanda!

movistar · 01-03-2007, 04:39 PM

normally that is the case. glad to hear yours was one of the normal cases!

Jack Black · 01-15-2008, 01:15 AM

My wife took Jack to our Vet today (just for a general starter check) and she detected a murmur in Jack too. It wasn't there for his 6 week vaccination, so reading this thread has given me confidence that hopefully all will be OK in the end

thanks
Aaron

dixiedi · 01-15-2008, 08:31 AM

Hi Aaron and welcome

How old is Jack now? I too hope his murmur will be gone on your next visit. A lot of puppies are born with a slight murmur and it isn't unusual for a slight murmur to be missed in the initial checkup. Definately stay on top of the matter and make sure the murmur isn't detected at his next visit. You might go ahead and contact your breeder and let them know that the murmur is there in case there is a problem down the road.

Wishing you and Jack luck and many years of happiness

AJWhiting · 01-15-2008, 10:03 AM

Good morning, and welcome. I am sorry to hear about the murmur. My 9 month old West Highland Terrier has a murmur as well. It is a fairly severe one, a class 3. Upon discovery, we got her to a specialist for an Ultra Sound and an EKG. Hers is a large one, and will not go away, but the vet did tell us that most of the smaller ones do diminish with time.

But, you would never know that our little Westie has a murmur. She is as healthy and energetic as any dog I have ever known. The only precaution that we have to take is during any surgery. There are certain medicines that should or should not be used for sedation. I believe sedation for ours was given through a mask instead of an IV so the meds didn't travel directly through her heart. But other than that she leads a completely normal life. I do believe that dogs with persisting murmurs have a slightly shorter life expectancy, but again, most go away with time!

**MaxandMe** · 01-15-2008, 10:21 AM

It does make me feel for anyone whose dog has a heart murmur and hope all will outgrow theirs

i wonder though if young puppies are like young kids at times? Meaning, some kids have heart murmurs that go away as they hit 3 or 4yrs old
Two of my kids had them....both finally outgrew theirs.

12-13-2006, 07:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
MarshMS Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 56	New owner of a pup with a heart murmur Hello, we are the new owners of a delightful little 8 week old F1 labradoodle Amanda. On her vet check-up the day after we got her, we learned that she has a heart murmur. The vet said it is probably a PDA and it will go away, but there are no guarantees. The vet said the murmur is very quiet, she could have missed it and it's probably why the vet who checked her out before leaving the breeder didn't catch it. Has anyone had a pup with a murmur? Did it go away? How concerned should we be?

12-13-2006, 07:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
dixiedi Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,254	Welcome to the forum It is not unusual for a puppy to have a heart murmur and 9 times out of 10, they will go away. Your vet does not sound alarmed about it so I think you can be at peace with it. Your vet will check Amanda on your next visit when you go in for your 12 wk shot and I bet she will be murmur free. Have fun with your new puppy and post a picture when you get a chance, we'd love to see her. __________________ Di & Archie If you want to feel rich, just count all of the things you have that money can't buy...

12-13-2006, 09:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
dixiedi Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,254	I really don't think it is going to be an issue but I would definately contact the breeder and let them know that your puppy has a heart murmur and that your vet is going to recheck her in a few weeks. I don't know what kind of contract you have but any reputable breeder would be very willing to pay for any test that is needed. Just be sure to notify your breeder of what is going on and give them the name of your vet and phone number so they can call and talk with him. I'm sure all is going to be fine, keep us posted __________________ Di & Archie If you want to feel rich, just count all of the things you have that money can't buy...

01-03-2007, 04:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
dixiedi Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,254	WooHoo I know you are very relieved by this news, that's wonderful. What a way to start the New Year __________________ Di & Archie If you want to feel rich, just count all of the things you have that money can't buy...

01-15-2008, 01:15 AM	#12 (permalink)
Jack Black Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 7	My wife took Jack to our Vet today (just for a general starter check) and she detected a murmur in Jack too. It wasn't there for his 6 week vaccination, so reading this thread has given me confidence that hopefully all will be OK in the end thanks Aaron __________________ http://labradoodle.wordpress.com/ (Jacks Blog) http://thecouchpotato.co.nz (My Blog - warning: Offensive Kiwi Humour and Language) http://www.chookmook.co.nz/blog (Wife's Blog)

12-13-2006, 09:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
MarshMS Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 56	Thanks so much for your response. I am very nervous about this but am trying not to let it affect my happiness with the pup. The vet talked about a cardiac work-up if the murmur is still there in a few weeks, and honestly the worry about another financial hit from seeing the specialist and having an ultrasound done has us very concerned. Should I contact the breeder about this? Would he be willing to pay for any tests do you think?

12-13-2006, 09:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
kim26 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: california Posts: 853	Welcome MarshMS and I'm sorry to hear that your pup has a heart murmur. I hope Di is right and the murmer will be gone at your next visit. I would definitely contact the breeder and find out if they would be willing to help out. Did you get a health guarantee of any kind? I'm sure the breeder would want to know right away if something is wrong rather than later. Maybe some of the breeders on here can give you some good advice.

12-14-2006, 12:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
Jac Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: northern California Posts: 9,243	I would also go to a regular vet first, for a second opinion...sometimes there can be a misdiagnosis. Before putting so much money into specialists, I'd get that second opinion. And, as a breeder, I would refund money to cover costs...if it truly is serious enough to go to the specialists. Sorry you are so frightened and facing such possibility...I hope it all turns out okay for you, your pup and your breeder.

01-03-2007, 03:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
MarshMS Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 56	Great news! Amanda's heart murmur is gone!

01-03-2007, 03:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
kim26 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: california Posts: 853	Yay! That's wonderful!

01-03-2007, 04:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
Jac Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: northern California Posts: 9,243	I am so happy to hear this news! You must be thrilled...congratulations to you and to little Amanda!

01-03-2007, 04:39 PM	#11 (permalink)
movistar Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: California Posts: 1,240	normally that is the case. glad to hear yours was one of the normal cases!

01-15-2008, 08:31 AM	#13 (permalink)
dixiedi Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,254	Hi Aaron and welcome How old is Jack now? I too hope his murmur will be gone on your next visit. A lot of puppies are born with a slight murmur and it isn't unusual for a slight murmur to be missed in the initial checkup. Definately stay on top of the matter and make sure the murmur isn't detected at his next visit. You might go ahead and contact your breeder and let them know that the murmur is there in case there is a problem down the road. Wishing you and Jack luck and many years of happiness __________________ Di & Archie If you want to feel rich, just count all of the things you have that money can't buy...

01-15-2008, 10:03 AM	#14 (permalink)
AJWhiting Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 112	Good morning, and welcome. I am sorry to hear about the murmur. My 9 month old West Highland Terrier has a murmur as well. It is a fairly severe one, a class 3. Upon discovery, we got her to a specialist for an Ultra Sound and an EKG. Hers is a large one, and will not go away, but the vet did tell us that most of the smaller ones do diminish with time. But, you would never know that our little Westie has a murmur. She is as healthy and energetic as any dog I have ever known. The only precaution that we have to take is during any surgery. There are certain medicines that should or should not be used for sedation. I believe sedation for ours was given through a mask instead of an IV so the meds didn't travel directly through her heart. But other than that she leads a completely normal life. I do believe that dogs with persisting murmurs have a slightly shorter life expectancy, but again, most go away with time! __________________ www.adamwhiting.net

01-15-2008, 10:21 AM	#15 (permalink)
MaxandMe Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Upstate, NY Posts: 15,103	It does make me feel for anyone whose dog has a heart murmur and hope all will outgrow theirs i wonder though if young puppies are like young kids at times? Meaning, some kids have heart murmurs that go away as they hit 3 or 4yrs old Two of my kids had them....both finally outgrew theirs. __________________ *Annmarie, Max,& Peanut* "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." Anatole France uncondtional love: what a dog always does for us and humans strive to do but can we?

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