Our new puppy is home, however

BAN-ONE · 03-12-2013, 03:05 PM

Our new little guy is home and he is amazing. However I took him to the Vet this morning for a puppy exam per the health warranty contract and a heart murmur was detected

other than that all looks good.
The vet will see him again on Saturday to check again. Is this something that should be a serious concern?

chicagojosh · 03-12-2013, 03:09 PM

Hi! congrats on the new pup! I have no idea about the heart murmur. I had one as a kid though...

Shade · 03-12-2013, 03:12 PM

It depends on the severity, some live long normal lives if it's minor enough

Was the puppy not vetted before you received it? Make sure the breeder is aware of the situation, depending on the severity it could justify a replacement or refund

Lucy Dog · 03-12-2013, 03:15 PM

I've had a couple dogs that have died from heart related issues. Both of them had heart murmurs that got progressively worse over the years, but none were diagnosed as young as yours. Most didn't get it until around 5+ years old. Both (neither dog a GSD) died from heart failure at around 10 years old, but it was a life long thing once diagnosed. Echocardiograms every six months and what not. It gets expensive.

In my experience, this is something you should take very seriously. What did you vet say? Did you let your breeder know?

FlyAway · 03-12-2013, 03:17 PM

Congratulations!

I wouldn't worry too much about the heart murmur yet. Did the vet say what grade? Anyway, I had a puppy that had a heart murmer, but it went away by 8 weeks.

lylol · 03-12-2013, 03:29 PM

I have had this with a couple pups over the years (non GSD) ... it very low level and by the time they were adults never had an issue and both were long lived. Again, contact breeder... and find out what Level it was from the vet. May not be an issue.

BAN-ONE · 03-12-2013, 04:00 PM

Thanks for the responses.
The Vet didn't give it a grade but I will ask for it on Saturday when I take him back.
I did inform the breeder and she was concerned and told me to update on Sat. She had been great during the waiting period and everyday since. A great person too. She has never experienced this in a litter though.
Per the warranty contract it states I would return the puppy & select another puppy from the litter, but they are all in homes. So don't know if I'd get offered a refund or a puppy from the next litter due in May. That would be a horrible wait.

My family is getting attached to the little guy but I'd think it would be tougher losing him early in his life versus within a week of having him. Plus I couldn't afford extra high costing medical expenses, which sucks because I'd love to be able to take care of him with this condition.

carlospereirat · 03-13-2013, 01:38 PM

I had the same experience. My puppy had a murmur. The breeder and the vet said that because they grow so fast in the early stages of life sometimes some parts of their heart growth faster than others and a murmur could e "normal". So the vet said to wait and to continue to check.
A month and a half later everything was back in place and she was perfectly fine.
Don't panic yet and let your puppy grow a little more, then check again, and again. I hope this is your case.

elisabeth_00117 · 03-13-2013, 01:51 PM

My Maine Coon kitten had a heart murmur as a kitten, within 2 weeks of checking on it again none could be detected.

I hope this is the case for your puppy as well.

BAN-ONE · 03-13-2013, 08:00 PM

Thanks and I truely hope it's something that will go away.

The Vet called me today as a follow up to the puppy exam and elaborated in great detail about the murmur. When I asked about a "grade", he did state it's subjective based on what is heard but he was leaning to a "3".

He will be re examing my little guy Saturday morning so hopefully it will be more positive.

03-12-2013, 03:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
BAN-ONE Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 73	Our new puppy is home, however Our new little guy is home and he is amazing. However I took him to the Vet this morning for a puppy exam per the health warranty contract and a heart murmur was detected other than that all looks good. The vet will see him again on Saturday to check again. Is this something that should be a serious concern?

03-12-2013, 03:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
chicagojosh Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Wicker Park, Chicago Posts: 1,851	Hi! congrats on the new pup! I have no idea about the heart murmur. I had one as a kid though... __________________ A tired puppy is a good puppy CODY - Sable GSD Born 11/15/09 MANDI - GSD/Husky/Lab Mix Born 6/3/06

03-12-2013, 03:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
Shade Knighted Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 3,448	It depends on the severity, some live long normal lives if it's minor enough Was the puppy not vetted before you received it? Make sure the breeder is aware of the situation, depending on the severity it could justify a replacement or refund __________________ Shanna My Pack: Jasmine - Female Miniature Poodle - born Aug 15, 2010 Loker Delgado Von Stalworth - male GSD - born Jan 26, 2012 Koda & Zazu - 4 year old male cats

03-12-2013, 03:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
FlyAway Master Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: The Cold Midwest Posts: 564	Congratulations! I wouldn't worry too much about the heart murmur yet. Did the vet say what grade? Anyway, I had a puppy that had a heart murmer, but it went away by 8 weeks. __________________ "And why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up."

03-12-2013, 03:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
lylol Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: San Diego County Posts: 404	I have had this with a couple pups over the years (non GSD) ... it very low level and by the time they were adults never had an issue and both were long lived. Again, contact breeder... and find out what Level it was from the vet. May not be an issue. __________________ Lysa Norse Magic vom Kriegershaus "Rune" (Dec 08) Kriegershaus Scout vom Haus Rauch (Dec 12) At the Bridge: Magnus (1998-2010)

03-12-2013, 03:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lucy Dog Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,944	I've had a couple dogs that have died from heart related issues. Both of them had heart murmurs that got progressively worse over the years, but none were diagnosed as young as yours. Most didn't get it until around 5+ years old. Both (neither dog a GSD) died from heart failure at around 10 years old, but it was a life long thing once diagnosed. Echocardiograms every six months and what not. It gets expensive. In my experience, this is something you should take very seriously. What did you vet say? Did you let your breeder know?

03-12-2013, 04:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
BAN-ONE Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 73	Thanks for the responses. The Vet didn't give it a grade but I will ask for it on Saturday when I take him back. I did inform the breeder and she was concerned and told me to update on Sat. She had been great during the waiting period and everyday since. A great person too. She has never experienced this in a litter though. Per the warranty contract it states I would return the puppy & select another puppy from the litter, but they are all in homes. So don't know if I'd get offered a refund or a puppy from the next litter due in May. That would be a horrible wait. My family is getting attached to the little guy but I'd think it would be tougher losing him early in his life versus within a week of having him. Plus I couldn't afford extra high costing medical expenses, which sucks because I'd love to be able to take care of him with this condition. Last edited by BAN-ONE; 03-12-2013 at 04:05 PM.

03-13-2013, 01:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
carlospereirat New Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 7	I had the same experience. My puppy had a murmur. The breeder and the vet said that because they grow so fast in the early stages of life sometimes some parts of their heart growth faster than others and a murmur could e "normal". So the vet said to wait and to continue to check. A month and a half later everything was back in place and she was perfectly fine. Don't panic yet and let your puppy grow a little more, then check again, and again. I hope this is your case.

03-13-2013, 01:51 PM	#9 (permalink)
elisabeth_00117 Crowned Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Posts: 8,328	My Maine Coon kitten had a heart murmur as a kitten, within 2 weeks of checking on it again none could be detected. I hope this is the case for your puppy as well. __________________ Battleborn Hundesport K-W German Shepherd Club

03-13-2013, 08:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
BAN-ONE Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 73	Thanks and I truely hope it's something that will go away. The Vet called me today as a follow up to the puppy exam and elaborated in great detail about the murmur. When I asked about a "grade", he did state it's subjective based on what is heard but he was leaning to a "3". He will be re examing my little guy Saturday morning so hopefully it will be more positive.

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