Heart murmur in new puppy.

[hellymelly]

We picked up our new puppy from the breeder yesterday. He had just had the puppies vet checked and unfortunately our puppy had a low grade heart murmer. The vet had written a letter explaining and saying that otherwise she is in good health, and that most murmurs disappear by about 16 weeks. (She is almost 9 weeks now). The breeder reduced the price of the puppy, but obviously my main worry is what are the issues if the murmur doesn't resolve? We will get her checked by our own vet this week, but I thought it might be helpful to also have others' experience of this, as I have never dealt with it before. [Message edited by MNHQ to remove identifying info]

I'm glad your seeing the main man. Having looked at a good quality Doppler ultrasound scanner recently myself I can tell you, you can't get a decent one for less than £25,000.

I'm glad your seeing the main man.

For me he is one of the top three veterinary cardiologists in the UK and in the top 10 worldwide.
Having looked at a good quality Doppler ultrasound scanner recently myself I can tell you, you can't get a decent one for less than £25,000.

Lonecat-We are seeing Dave Dickson, he is part of the team at heartvets, with the man you mentioned. I was slightly aghast at the cost of the scan but with the machine costing so much I see why! At least we will know just what the problem is on Monday, and then can act on that info. I can't tell you how much I've appreciated the advice you have given, it has been very helpful indeed.

I have eberything crossed for you for Monday. It must be extremely worrying for you all.

Dave is lovely too he taught me how to scan hearts.

Lots of handholding from here and everything crossed too!
Sending you and

Thanks for the crossed fingers. I will update on Monday with the scan results and put a picture of her on my profile.

Good luck for Monday , do I assume that this is not covered by her puppy insurance ?

Well I am assuming not, as we knew she had a murmur, but I will check with the insurer as she has the standard puppy insurance for one month, from the breeder. We will need to insure her properly but will have to wait until we have all the information about her heart.

She had the scan yesterday, not horrendous news but not great either. She does have a congenital abnormality, aortic stenosis. She will need another scan at 6m and then again at 18m to assess how the disease is progressing, as it may improve, or it may get worse. Worse case scenario is that it causes her to have significant problems and a shortened lifespan. Best case is that she adjusts to it as she grows and it doesn't affect her life. She is going on drugs now (beta blockers) as they may help by lowering the strain on the heart. I feel pretty upset actually, even though it may end up all being ok. Having a puppy on meds after a week isn't a great start. Am concerned that other health issues may emerge as she gets older. Am also worried that she may not live all that long. Especially as she was intended as the dog for my dds to grow up with. Woke up this morning really regretting bringing her home, and half thinking of trying to take her back to the breeder. But then I came downstairs and saw her little face and my dds were playing with her and I don't see how we could take her back now, it would be really upsetting and not a great example to set with my dds either.
The scans are not covered by her insurance, and I am worried it will be tricky and expensive to get her insured for other things, i have to research that today. I am glad we have a bit more info, even though it won't be clear how things are panning out until she is fully grown, but I feel really upset today and foolish for not getting this assessed before we brought her home.

Firstly, I would have brought the puppy home too, I think most of us would. How can you go and pick up the puppy, with children and not bring her home? Impossible. Don't feel guilty.

Secondly, I am very sorry that you have been put in this impossible situation by the breeder. Have you spoken to them? I genuinely feel they should contribute in some way to the on-going costs involved here. I am not sure where you would stand legally, but morally they should.

Our new pony have never had anything wrong with him in 12 years, I saw the vet records. He broke his leg after 6 months with us, I am waiting to see how much the cost is as the insurance cover was for 3k, the operation and ongoing xrays etc will be way more than this. I look at him and feel so cross, then I look at him and love him. Not the same, but I understand your feelings.

I am pissed off with the breeder on your behalf.

I went with our new cocker to get his first injections done yesterday, I know the breeder had already vet checked them but I thought of you when he checked him over.

I am really sorry.

As I said previously I think the breeder was morally corrupt by not phoning you and telling you before you went ,once there they knew that you would take the pup . They probably feel that they have done their bit by reducing the cost of the puppy , what sort of discount did you get ? In your position I'd be furious . My mum bought a Ragdoll kitten years ago that collapsed the day after we got him home and had to have 2 major bowel resections ,fortunately it was covered on his kitten insurance as it was due to intussuception , however we told the breeder ( because we thought she would be interested) and she couldn't distance herself quickly enough .I hope your breeder shows a little more compassion .

Helly I'm sorry to hear that and hope that your pup turns out just fine in the end.
I'm hopping mad with that breeder though. He must know exactly what he has done by not letting you know beforehand.
When we bought our dog we did stipulate that the purchase was subject to vet check (both the breeders and our own) and we did ask when checks were due and to be kept informed and we did phone to check as well. this was made absolutely clear to our dcs too- however not sure how easy it would have been to send him back after collecting tbh!

If I were you I would consider contacting the kennel club. The assured breeder scheme is supposed to be quite rigorous ( or at least is sold to the public as such)
www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog-or-puppy/finding-the-right-breeder/assured-breeder-scheme-(information-for-pedigree-puppy-buyers)/buyers'-faqs/
www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breeding/novice-breeder/kennel-club-code-of-ethics/

I am glad you have an answer just sorry for you that it was not that it is an innocent murmur. I also think the breeder was naughty for not tellig you about this problem before you got there and fell in love.
I think if the breeder is not very helpful at this point trading standards could be interested and worth trying.

Our rescue pup was diagnosed with a low grade heart murmur when we first took him to our vet at around 10 weeks. She was confident it would disappear and it has. He is now a happy, healthy 2 year old. I hope you find this happens with your little one too. x

Helly just catching up with this tread now. I am so sorry the news wasn't better than this but hopefully with good veterinary care and careful observation you will be able to lead a near normal life him.

Have you been in touch with the breeder? I would have been very much in two minds about returning him, kids would have been devastated but have got over it but then I am a firm beleiver in not all living things are perfect and we stand by the less able.

I do hope it all works out for you.

Thanks. We have definitely decided to keep her. Party as she was taken in as part of the family, with all that entails, and partly as you say Redpriest, it isn't a great message to give to children not to stand by the less able, and to return her as though she's a faulty pair of trousers rather than a living creature. And I do love her now of course, she has a beautiful little face. have tried to load pictures onto my profile but they are refusing to upload for some reason. Will try again shortly. I am very stressed about the heart thing. It takes three years IME to get into ones stride with a dog, then they are fully adult and predictable. So if she only lived until four or five we would have had the hard years but very little time with her as a settled adult dog. Am also horrified at the thought of something really painful happening with her heart, on the beach or somewhere far from help. I'll ask the cardio vet more about that. I'm very worried about her suffering at all. I have REALLY appreciated all the help and support on this thread, fellow animal owners will all understand I'm sure what a big stress and worry this has been.
I'm composing an email to the breeder. I do want to keep up civil contact with him, it will be helpful in the future with her training etc I am sure. Also he does seem to genuinely care about his dogs. But I do want to get across how horrible a situation we have been put in, and that we don't understand why we weren't told in advance.

I am so sorry, it really is despicable on behalf of the breeder.
I would look at trading standards and at the kennel club.....they may not be interested unfortunately, but he has behaved appallingly....he should at the very least repay you what you paid.
As I said further up-thread we had a cat who had a heart murmur and it cost a lot interms of treatment., though I think it taught the kids a lot.