My dog Willow was a pup when I got her from the RSPCA in 2000. She's a mongrel scruff but mostly terrier I think. She's a happy, spirited, intelligent and loving dog that brings great joy to lots of peoples lives.

I went to see my vet in the summer as she appeared to be suffering from the affects of the heat and whilst there was told she had a slight heart murmur.  Although this was explained by the vet, I was still shocked and very upset by it, especially as she is outwardly very fit and healthy.

However, I was now aware of the symptums to look out for. The only one that she had presented was coughing, but this was not very often - probobly once a month if that when I could remember.

She went back to the vet end of November for some booster jabs and I was told then that the murmur had spread from the left side, to the right side of the heart. She also had some water on her lungs which was a symptum of the heart not being able to clear the fluids away due to its compromised performance. 

However, the vet didn't upgrade the murmur (down as 'slight' on her records) or put her on medication at this point. Since the visit in the summer I have watched her like a hawk and she remains as full of life, energetic and in top condition.  She has coughed once every now and again, but each time it as been as though she's clearing her thoat, not repeated, deep or destressing in any way. And after visiting the vet that time,  on the way home she tore though the park as fast as her little legs would carry her as she always does!

My question is - what prognosis can I expect?

No one seems to know. The diagnosis on both visits was by stethascope, which I have been told is not accurate, and excited dogs or dogs with swift heart beats can show signs of murmurs which they don't have.

Also on both visits the vet each time was very young and very competant I'm sure, but to my mind without the breadth of experience that comes with being in a career for many years

As it is I can't relax until I know what I can do for her.  My own thoughts were to have her refered to a cardiologist for further investingation with say ultra sound or ECG technology  - am I over reacting?

Also, is it correctable with surgery as in humans? - I wish money was no object, but I would find the money somehow if it wasn't covered by her pet insurance.

Outwardly Willow is fit and healthy and gets the best of everything - I'm not ashamed to say that if I lost her it would break me in half.  But I would rather know the worst than not really know anything.

Can someome help?

Jonathon

I don't know about surgery... but I had a collieX who had parvo as a pup and we later found out he had a heart murmur, probably due to the virus, but can't be sure of that. 

Anyway, I tried to keep him fit and active and he lived until one month short of his 15th birthday.

~ Sharon :)

Personally I wouldn't worry, why mess a dog around if she is fit and healthy, if its not broke, don't fix it!  My Jack Russell had a LOUD heart murmur at 9yrs and lived to 15 and a half with NO problems from it, she died of kidney failure.
Dawn.

My springer Gizmo was diagnosed with a heart murmur when she was 4, she was put on a tablet called Milophyline (sp?), her symptoms were drunkness after walks - she could not walk a straight line.  The meds were great, no staggers for years until she got to about 10 when the cough became bad and her energy etc was very low, vet put her on more expensive tablets (eek!) and a diuretic, she is like a puppy again and still going strong at 13.  With the wonder drugs they have now the prognosis is fantastic, they have better drugs the worse it gets, Gizmo has no problems at all.  I would suggest walking your dog in harness or headcollar because I found with Gizmo that a collar made her cough worse.  If you believe in alternative meds then also try some hawthorn drops in her dinner, they are a natural heart strenghener.
Please don't get too worked up, I remember when Gizmo was diagnosed I thought she would only last a few years, I put her on an extending lead so she did not overdo it, however she was sooo miserable I came to the conclusion that she would be happier running free (she is a springer and they don't do leads), I thought if something happened then at least she would be happy, I was keeping her on the lead for my selfish reasons.  She was fine and tears about fit as a fiddle, she swims and runs for miles and I know that she is happy - the most important thing.