What are the symptoms of heart murmur?

It causes no symptoms by itself: it is a finding on auscultation. Depending on the cause, it may be accompanied by tiredness, coughing or poor tolerance to exercise. In puppies, some murmurs are innocent and disappear

Is Heart murmur contagious?

Heart murmur does not spread directly between animals.

Corazón

Heart murmur

An abnormal heart sound that the vet detects on listening with a stethoscope. It is NOT a disease in itself, but a sign that may be harmless or may indicate a heart problem.

Mild🐕 Dogs🐈 Cats

Symptoms to watch for

• It causes no symptoms by itself: it is a finding on auscultation
• Depending on the cause, it may be accompanied by tiredness, coughing or poor tolerance to exercise
• In puppies, some murmurs are innocent and disappear

Causes

Turbulence in the blood flow through the heart. Causes: valve disease, cardiomyopathies, congenital defects, anaemia. Some murmurs in puppies are "innocent" and disappear as they grow.

Diagnosis

Auscultation (detection) plus echocardiography to find out the cause and severity.

Treatment

The murmur itself is not treated: its underlying cause is treated, if there is one. Some murmurs need nothing more than monitoring.

Prevention

Not preventable. Regular check-ups allow murmurs to be detected early.

When should you see the vet?

If a murmur is detected, see your vet for an echocardiogram: it is the way to find out whether it is harmless or needs monitoring or treatment.

Consult a vet

WetAi guides you and takes you to the vet; it does not diagnose.

Notice: this information is for general guidance and educational purposes only. It does NOT replace diagnosis or treatment by a registered veterinary surgeon. If you notice any symptoms, always consult a professional. Wallapets accepts no responsibility for the use of this information without veterinary supervision.