Canine Heart Murmurs: A Guide to Causes, Symptoms, and Care
A heart murmur indicates abnormal blood flow within the heart, often involving valves or inefficient chamber communication. These can be congenital or acquired. A French study of 95 healthy young adult dogs (1-5 years old, 30 breeds) found that 23% had heart murmurs, predominantly systolic and located over the left heart base. This research suggests physiological murmurs, not linked to structural issues, are more common in young, healthy adult dogs than previously believed, extending beyond specific predisposed breeds. Some dogs with murmurs in the study also presented with EKG abnormalities such as mild mitral valve regurgitation or subaortic/pulmonary valve stenosis.
Murmurs occur when heart valves fail to close completely, causing blood to flow backward and creating an extra sound. Right-sided murmurs can result from tricuspid regurgitation or ventricular septal defects (VSDs). Left-sided murmurs are frequently associated with mitral valve prolapse—the most common acquired murmur in adult dogs—or stenoses of aortic or pulmonary valves, which narrow and increase cardiac workload. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is another cause. Key symptoms to monitor include coughing, a bluish tongue, appetite loss, fatigue, decreased exercise endurance, and irregular heart or respiratory rates.
Effective management involves a collaborative approach between a board-certified veterinary cardiologist and a holistic veterinarian. Nutritional interventions are vital, recommending increased intake of ubiquinol (CoQ10) and omega-3 fatty acids, particularly krill oil, to slow murmur progression. Additional beneficial supplements include Chinese herbs, homeopathic remedies, amino acids like taurine and L-carnitine, D-ribose, and heart-supportive herbs such as Hawthorne berry. Proactive heart health measures include regular proBNP blood tests for early disease detection, maintaining a healthy weight through exercise, feeding a high-quality, species-appropriate diet, and ensuring excellent dental hygiene, as oral bacteria can lead to heart valve infections.
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(Source: https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/2016-05-04-nl-dog-heart-murmur/)
