Just had my dog graded with a grade 2 heart murmur. She is 4 years old. The vet recommended she have an echocardiography with doppler scan. I was quoted by one surgery £360 - £680 for the scan. Seems such an awful lot to pay to see if it is really an innocent murmur. Has anyone on here gone ahead with the doppler?

I did with a cat and it was 100 % a waste of money. He live to 12 without any problems or any medication. Unless it is vital you find out WHAT the problem is, for the sake of breeding from the same lines for instance, I personally would not bother. I had a dog with a grade 6 live to 15 so a 2 would not worry me at all OTHER than for breeding purposes of course. He only ever saw my normal vet.

The vets had on numerous occasions auscultated a murmur in my dog up to the point they would not operate without an echo (epulis removal so not major surgery). Turned out the echo showed NOTHING wrong with his heart at all which we were extremely happy about and I have to say it put my mind at rest.
All I can think is he was nervous every time they listened to his heart.

They had been saying for about 4 years he had a murmur so it certainly wasn't a one-off thing. It might be worth them listening again to check but other than that I agree with goldmali.

My girl was diagnosed with a grade 4 heart murmur at a health check just before I was going to mate her. I asked for a second opinion, not doubting the vet's word, and I'm sure it didn't cost anywhere near you have been quoted for the Doppler etc. even allowing for inflation. Might be worth asking to be referred if it's cheaper.  I had her checked a year later and it was still there but it has never affected her and she has not needed medication and is coming up to 13 now.  Needless to say I didn't mate her.

My terrier was diagnosed a few years back with a grade 2 - no treatment or scans recommended, it progressed and now is a grade 4. I had to change vets and when she had her check the vet said she has a good murmur going on! Still a 4 but he hasn't suggested any scans or medication just symptoms to look out for that would require further vet investigation.
She acts like a normal heathy dog and is ten.