Help- 8 week pup with a grade 1 heart murmur!

[Lackofsleepforyears]

We collected our adorable puppy on Tuesday and yesterday I took her to the vets and she diagnosed a grade one heart murmur. The breeder's vet did not pick up on this. The breeder said two of the boy pups had murmurs detected before 8 weeks but on Monday (the day before they all went to their new homes) the boys murmurs has disappeared. The breeder tells me this is common with puppies. She owns both the mum and the dad and said they both had murmurs at 8 weeks but they are now fine. My vet has advised getting our puppy checked out at a specialist cardiac unit so me know what we are looking at. Has anyone else had experience of this?

[fivedogstofeed]

Not that common, no. Is it a breed that is prone to heart problems?

[Frouby]

My dsis had this. She was worried as pup only had 4 weeks insurance and obviously any issues wouldn't be covered on a new policy.

Vet recommended another appointment at that surgery (Vets4pets). Dsis booked pup in at my vets and they found no murmur. Took her back to her own vet, said what had happened and saw a different vet there, no murmur. Original vet also wanted to refer to specialist cardiac unit for a scan etc.

She's since been back for her second vacs and no murmur.

[SkeletonSkins]

Our dog had a murmur at first 8 week scan and we were told by the vets this sometimes happened with puppies and could resolve itself naturally in some cases. If not then further investigations would be needed. I worried myself sick but no murmur could be found at the next appointment or any appointment since. He’s now a very fit and healthy 3 year old dog.

[Lackofsleepforyears]

Thank you Frouby and SkeletonSkins...I really hope our story has a happy outcome too. Fivedogstofeed she is not a breed prone to heart problems at all but she was the smallest of the litter. :(

[littlelaury]

We were told today that our 8 week old puppy has what the vet called it an 'innocent' heart murmur. He said it's hard to pick up as it's very slight and often missed but actually not that uncommon. He said there was about 90% chance that it will resolve during the next couple of weeks and be gone by next vaccination. I don't know if that's the same as a grade 1 murmur. We are obviously still very worried... but hopeful!

[Grumpyoldpersonwithcats]

Don't know if it's similar for cats but my last two kittens were both diagnosed with grade 1 murmurs when I picked them up. Battersea vet was clearly very relieved when we said we weren't worried about this.
Neither are now showing a murmur.
You may find insurance an issue though (we don't bother with pet insurance which is why we weren't too worried)

[Lackofsleepforyears]

Little laury it sound like your vet is optimistic. I think a grade 1 is also called an innocent murmur so that is reassuring to hear. Keep me posted. Grumpyoldpersonwithcats I am pleased to hear your cats were okay. I have checked and luckily our insurance will cover this. We will just need to keep the same insurance company and ensure we opt for life cover.

[Honeyroar]

My friend's dog had a heart murmur as a puppy. She got it for free because her family felt they couldn't sell it. The dog lived to a ripe old age and when it was tested years later there was no sign of the murmur.

[chaoticmumoftwo]

We are in a very similar situation, pup is a little older tho (12 weeks) and murmur picked up that wasn’t heard at earlier checks. I oscillate between thinking it’s all going to be ok and totally panicking. We go back in 2 weeks to see if it’s still there, it’s going to be a long 2 weeks...

[littlelaury]

We took pup to vets for second set of jabs and unfortunately the murmur is still there. Vet's advice is still just 'wait and see'. It doesn't seem to be affecting pup, so I guess we just ignore it and wait to see if it ever becomes a problem... Did anybody else's pup's murmur go away?

[ChaosMoon]

We had a dog with a heart murmur. It didn't resolve itself and we were told to "keep him calm". He was a very active breed and it would have been cruel not to let him exercise. We concluded that of he popped his clogs while happily out for a run, that was better than living forever in the prison of our home. He ran and he ran and he outlived the breed standard by 5 years. The murmur was always there, but it was never a problem.

[Lackofsleepforyears]

Our pup went back for her second vaccinations and the murmur was still there. We have moved vets to one where the vet is a cardiac specialist. He scanned her heart and at this stage is fairly optimistic that it is an innocent murmur that will either resolve in time or not cause a problem. We go back in 8 weeks to be checked again.

[Itsjustmee]

We had that with our puppy he was the runt of the litter and it was noted that he might have a possible heart murmur

He’s now just over 2 years old and no longer a runt (he’s bloody huge ) and no heart murmur
Sometimes they just grow out of it

[LaidbackLibra]

Hi, I've just now received a call from my pups breeder informing me that a grade 1 heart murmur had been detected by the vets when having his 8 week jabs. She's received a 2nd opinion and it's definitely grade 1. Ive read that it's likely the murmur could disappear. I've been given the option to back out of giving him a home but I don't think I can, I'm so excited to bring him home. The breeder seems genuinely gutted herself, we've been receiving weekly updates and photos, he's the cheeky monkey of the litter, in good health apart from the only one with a murmur.
I'm confused and concerned about insurance, will this prevent me from getting full cover? If the murmur disappears is that no longer an insurance issue?

[Simmi20]

Yes 3 months ago took a pup of someone he 3 months old. Last week he's breathing went low took him vet he as a murmur but he's loud born with it don't want to loose him. He now has to see a cardiologist tomorrow and have a scan . I don't think some people shouldn't have dogs let alone breed them they only do it for money they don't care about the puppies hope this helped