Yup my Cody (a non-gsd) had a heart murmer for a few years before her passed away (not related to the murmer)
any experiences with heart murmers?
1 - 20 of 34 Posts
Sorry, Lisa. I know nothing
![]()
But please keep us posted. I do know plenty of humans with heart murmurs yet don't have any issues. No clue if it's the same for dogs.
M&J had a dog with one. I am not sure if it was like an adult onset or if he had it all along...
Is there such a thing as adult onset heart murmur? I guess there would be huh? I am sure they are different from the puppy murmurs.
Anna had one but it was caused by an AV fistula and was that was probably caused by being shot.
![]()
I have an image of the fistula-it was huge. Hers was a 5 before her surgery and is a 1 now (can't really hear it but it's there). I cannot say enough good about her cardiologist.
That must have been scary news-I'm sorry.
Is there such a thing as adult onset heart murmur? I guess there would be huh? I am sure they are different from the puppy murmurs.
Anna had one but it was caused by an AV fistula and was that was probably caused by being shot.
That must have been scary news-I'm sorry.
thanks everyone.
Jean, I can imagine that being shot might induce some kind of trauma!?!?
The vet thought it was most likely due to degenerative changes from inflammation. What is inducing the inflammation is a entirely different story. I am worried about the suddent onset. She has not been well since that surgery
![]()
The vet thought we should monitor it and then see the cardiologist if it progresses. I think I am going to treat for infection first and see if that changes anything. I don't know yet what to do for valve disease -- most heart info I have is about the other aspects of the heart.
Yes Jean, it is scary news. I expected her some day to get cancer because of all her risk factors. Her heart wasn't something I would have ever expected. She has such a low heart rate too -- at the vet's it's probably about 68, and 52 at rest. They always have to set their monitors real low for her. When she was young, I used to think she wasn't breathing.....
Jean, I can imagine that being shot might induce some kind of trauma!?!?
The vet thought it was most likely due to degenerative changes from inflammation. What is inducing the inflammation is a entirely different story. I am worried about the suddent onset. She has not been well since that surgery
The vet thought we should monitor it and then see the cardiologist if it progresses. I think I am going to treat for infection first and see if that changes anything. I don't know yet what to do for valve disease -- most heart info I have is about the other aspects of the heart.
Yes Jean, it is scary news. I expected her some day to get cancer because of all her risk factors. Her heart wasn't something I would have ever expected. She has such a low heart rate too -- at the vet's it's probably about 68, and 52 at rest. They always have to set their monitors real low for her. When she was young, I used to think she wasn't breathing.....
Grover had a murmur diagnosed about 3-4 years ago and graded by the cardiologist at a 2/6 with ultrasound. She had atrial enlargement. I think on the right side.
September 2005, it was upgraded to a 3/6 after we went to the Emergency Clinic because she was having difficulty breathing. We did another ultrasound and put her on Furosemide (Lasix) and enalapril. I recall her being on a third medicine but I'm not sure what. I'll have to dig out her files. On those medicines, she did great -- I mean, absolutely great!
December 2006, we did lose her due to massive congestive heart failure. She was 12 years old. She was doing great until Thanksgiving Day, when her tongue turned deep blue. After another ultrasound, the cardiologist ramped up the Lasix a lot, and it seemed that she turned the corner. We had bottled oxygen in the house just in case, but used it only a couple times. Then she was up and her regular self again. On December 5, she went into heart failure and died quickly. It was, quite honestly, a shock.
So after her diagnosis, Grovie had several really good years. She ran, hiked, camped, swam, played, beat up on Camper, and did everything that she always had done. She barely missed a beat, and when she did, tweaking her medicine did the trick.
Her death was quick and relatively painless. We took her to the Critical Care Clinic. Once they told us that her heart was failing, we decided to end it early, and she died surrounded by those who loved her most. It was a dignified end.
I wish I could tell you that a murmur doesn't mean anything. But for Grover, it did spell the end....but after several years. In the interim, it didn't keep her from living a full life, and her death was sweet and fast.
Good luck to you and Indy, Lisa. Indy will be in my heart.
![]()
Let us know what the cardiologist says.
September 2005, it was upgraded to a 3/6 after we went to the Emergency Clinic because she was having difficulty breathing. We did another ultrasound and put her on Furosemide (Lasix) and enalapril. I recall her being on a third medicine but I'm not sure what. I'll have to dig out her files. On those medicines, she did great -- I mean, absolutely great!
December 2006, we did lose her due to massive congestive heart failure. She was 12 years old. She was doing great until Thanksgiving Day, when her tongue turned deep blue. After another ultrasound, the cardiologist ramped up the Lasix a lot, and it seemed that she turned the corner. We had bottled oxygen in the house just in case, but used it only a couple times. Then she was up and her regular self again. On December 5, she went into heart failure and died quickly. It was, quite honestly, a shock.
So after her diagnosis, Grovie had several really good years. She ran, hiked, camped, swam, played, beat up on Camper, and did everything that she always had done. She barely missed a beat, and when she did, tweaking her medicine did the trick.
Her death was quick and relatively painless. We took her to the Critical Care Clinic. Once they told us that her heart was failing, we decided to end it early, and she died surrounded by those who loved her most. It was a dignified end.
I wish I could tell you that a murmur doesn't mean anything. But for Grover, it did spell the end....but after several years. In the interim, it didn't keep her from living a full life, and her death was sweet and fast.
Good luck to you and Indy, Lisa. Indy will be in my heart.
Lisa,
I PMed you
![]()
I PMed you
3K9Mom, Thank you for sharing your experience with me. It really helps me to not take this lightly. Since it has come on recently for Indy, with the onset of other problems, I really need to be proactive to make sure that things don't start to spiral. I have to confess, it was tough reading about Grover -- dogs have such a great heart, and it just seems so wrong that the actual organ can be such a source of disease.
I know I keep saying it, but I never imagined it would be her heart.
DrakeGSD, got your p.m., and thank you
![]()
Mary, I did a quick search, and there are histamine receptors in the heart, and histamine is a cause of inflammation. I wondre if there is something there.
I know I keep saying it, but I never imagined it would be her heart.
DrakeGSD, got your p.m., and thank you
Mary, I did a quick search, and there are histamine receptors in the heart, and histamine is a cause of inflammation. I wondre if there is something there.
Thanks debbie, I heard about the younger dogs growing out of it too. Indy is 10 1/2 now and the murmur wasn't there or was not detectible about 3 months ago. I don't think she'll outgrow it
![]()
Last summer she was panting on some of our walks, which she has never done before, but I attributed that to her bone infection, and, in retrospect, maybe the mast cell cancer. Now I'm wondering if it was the heart too.
I think Indy's spreadsheet can rival any of Jeans any day
![]()
Last summer she was panting on some of our walks, which she has never done before, but I attributed that to her bone infection, and, in retrospect, maybe the mast cell cancer. Now I'm wondering if it was the heart too.
I think Indy's spreadsheet can rival any of Jeans any day
2
poor Indy, i hope there is something they can do. if i know you Lisa you will leave no stone unturned! yeah, you and Jean are in close running! lol!
debbie
![]()
debbie
debbie, thanks. I *will* leave *no* stoned unturned (drives my husband nuts!).
Jean, Indy thanks you on the compliment of her age
![]()
The vet says the same thing -- in fact the vet brags to her collegues when Indy comes in. I contribute it to the homecooked food and supplements the last 7 or 8 years. I keep thinking that for a 35 lb dog, her "innards" shouldn't be aging so rapidly, but she's had a very tough life
![]()
3K9Mom, yes, she is on glucosamine. I hadn't thought about the salt issue. Her bloodwork has always shown her on the verge of dehydration, so I'll have to think about this. I hate choosing the lesser of two evils -- hard to imagine her not a good supplement. Drat...
Jean, Indy thanks you on the compliment of her age
3K9Mom, yes, she is on glucosamine. I hadn't thought about the salt issue. Her bloodwork has always shown her on the verge of dehydration, so I'll have to think about this. I hate choosing the lesser of two evils -- hard to imagine her not a good supplement. Drat...
2
1 - 20 of 34 Posts
