Heart Murmurs in Pets: What You Need to Know

What Is a Heart Murmur in Pets?

A heart murmur is an abnormal sound a veterinarian hears when listening to your pet’s heart with a stethoscope. Normally, a pet’s heartbeat has a steady, rhythmic sound, but when a murmur is present, there’s a “whooshing” noise between beats. This happens when blood flow through the heart is disrupted, often due to a leaky or narrowed valve, a structural issue, or changes in blood consistency.

Is My Pet’s Heart Murmur Serious?

A heart murmur isn’t a disease on its own, it’s a clue that something might be going on with your pet’s heart. Some murmurs are innocent and do not indicate heart disease, while others may signal an underlying cardiac condition. Your veterinarian or a veterinary cardiologist will evaluate the murmur’s grade, location, and characteristics to determine its significance. Additional diagnostic tests, such as an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart), chest X-rays, or an electrocardiogram (ECG), may be needed to assess heart function and detect any underlying disease.

What Happens Next?

If a heart murmur is detected in your pet, treatment depends on the cause of the murmur:

• Innocent murmurs may not require any treatment, only monitoring.
• Murmurs caused by heart disease may require medications to manage heart function, reduce fluid buildup, or control abnormal rhythms.
• Severe valve disease or structural defects might require specialized procedures or surgery.

Your pet’s heart health is a team effort. Working closely with your vet and a veterinary cardiologist is the key to understanding your pet’s heart condition and developing a customized treatment plan for their best quality of life.

Schedule an appointment with DoveLewis Cardiology in Portland, Oregon