Hi everyone,don't think I got through the first time so am trying again. Our silkie terreir,Jazzie,who we bought on Easter weekend,I think has a heart murmur. This is the sound I hear when I listen to his chest. I'll describe it this way(thumthump,thumthump,thumthumpppumpum) Does that make sense? He had been in foster care as his previous owner past shortly after buying him. He's up to date on his shots,but no mention of a heart defect in his papers we have. What does this sound like to you. I am scheduling him an appt with the vet first thing Monday morning. Should I be worried. I already have worried sick over this. I don't want to loose him. Please help.

My Flatcoat bitch lay with her chest on foot one day and her heartbeat felt really weird, so, as I am slightly obsessive about my dogs, I took her to the vet.
After listening to her heart my vet pulled a face and said 'that is was we call...' I expected her to say something bad and she finished with 'a perfectly normal canine heartbeat' She said their rhythm is slightly different to ours.

I also had a mongrel who was diagnosed with a murmur (amongst other things) at the age of 11 and she lived a normal, very happy life until I lost her at almost 15 after a stroke. 

But, please, get him checked ASAP if you are worried.  As my vet said, better safe than sorry.

Thanks for the quick reply. Hopefully and prayerfully nothing will be wrong with him. Am calling first thing in the morning to be on the safe side!!!

Dogs actually do have irregular heartbeats as norm, having cavaliers I am all too aware of heart problems & my GP vet let me listen to one of our clear boys it wasn't what I expected to hear & he had a good laugh at me when I said it didn't sound right ! The only other hearbeats I had listened to were human !

Thanks to all of you for your advice today. I will have him checked immediately. I appreciate your thoughtfulness in replying. Donna

Our Bichon had a grade 6 heart murmer. I don't know what it sounded like but the cardiologist said you can compare it with a kiddies joke device that you put in palm of hand then shakes hands. Do you remember them? They give a a vibration and feel like a very mild electric shock.