A cavalier bitch aged 8 weeks that I breed from heart tested parents has got a heart murmur. I've told the new owners and am waiting for their response. The vet doesn't seem too concerned and says it may disappear. Is there anyone who has similar problems.

It seems that heart murmurs in puppies is very common, even in breeds that do not have heart problems, it seems to come and go and in most cases disapears all together as they get older.

Thanks that's very reassuring to know

I agree Jackie it is a common occurence in young puppies.  I have my own opinion on this........is it STRESS related.  Most young puppies that I have heard about that have "heart murmurs" have either recently gone to their new homes and been checked over by the vet.  I really do think that stress has something to do with it.  These puppies have grown up and never had heart murmurs again.  Something to think about?

You may be right Molly but I think it is common in a lot of mammal young, including us.

I was honest with the new owners and they have decided not to have the puppy, leaving me with a big problem of what to do next. Perhaps I shouldn't have said anything to them, too late now. I now understand that most vets would not even mention these sort of murmurs, I suppose me being the breeder, he thought he might as well.

What problem do you have ?

If it is just a puppy murmur then it will disappear & you can safely sell the puppy

If it not a puppy murmur then you can keep the puppy depending on the prognosis from the vet is

I afraid this is one of the risks you run when you breed dogs.

If you had not mentioned it & the murmur turned out to be serious you would have left yourself open to being sued in court

My heart specialist vet is not worried, but the people do not seem to accept that, I don't know what to do as they have turned the pup down after being so enthusiastic, it seems a shame to sell on to someone else when they so wanted her. 

An excerpt from the puppy handout sheet that Boxer breeders should give out
to all new puppy owners

"It should be stressed that minor flow murmurs are commonly found in young Boxer puppies,
as in other breeds, but most disappear by about 16 weeks of age. Even if they persist there may
be no cause for alarm if they are quiet. Such genuine flow murmurs are not associated with heart
disease in the adult."

Would your heart specialist vet not do a report for you on the pup?
I can understand why the people have declined the puppy, re possible health implications.
But honesty is the best policy for all involved.

They obviously did not want her enough & do not deserve her

You cannot blame them Moonmaiden, a puppy with what could be an uncertain future, would you want that?
Dawn.

Actually my second youngest Cavalier had such a murmur & I still bought him)after speaking to the breeders vet(-very experienced Cavalier vet too)

He has a clear heart tested at 3+ this year  Parents & G parents & GG parents also clear(GG Grandad died aged 16 with clear heart)

So Yes I would still have the puppy if the breeding had been heart tested clear as for my boy - so they were atill clearly not the people for this puppy

Both parents were heart and eye tested with clear results so I was not expecting this problem.

If you need a kind loving home for this puppy then contact me I have a cavalier now with many health problems and have had them before too.

Bev

i had 2 boxers 1 with as a pup and 1 without,the one without had major heart problems the one with cleared up as he grew and no heart problems and was still ok upto his death at the age of 11.
i can understand why they was having 2nd thoughts as i have cared for a dog with heart issues for 9 years and it is not pleasent to see a much loved pet go into heart failure and not being able to help.
having said that i would have still taken it and if in time the murmur didn't clear you could have arranged to take it back if needed.
even dogs with heart problems deserve the best care possible,as long as they are happy and healthy as possible considering they can live long happy lifes with the right owner.
even with that i think all stock should be checked first but even that is not 100% regarding the off spring.

I wouldn't go for it myself thats for sure, especially a Cavalier and knowing the devastating heart problems they can suffer from. I think what type of home the puppy goes to would need to be paramount.  If it is a slight "puppy" murmur then it should clear, usually by around 11/12wks, maybe the breeder would be willing to keep the puppy this length of time BEFORE she sold it, at least then they would know what they are dealing with, and of course if it didn't clear then a quiet home life would be a good option.  If the buyer has children this may be too much for such a puppy.
Dawn.

The new owners are a older couple with grown up children 

The best thing is then to concentrate on finding the puppy a new home, with people who will understand, if I were you I would keep the puppy untill he/she has been fully vaccinated and then the murmur should of cleared and you will have a fine, healthy puppy!  Good luck and well done for being such an honest and caring breeder.
Dawn.

I'm taking her to the vet again to clarify the matter, and then yes I will no doubt keep her for a few more weeks tomake sure all is well.

Good on ya! Let us know how she gets on.
Dawn.

i think the same at least you have been honest and not just let this baby go,it is a shame people don't take the responability of breeding as serious as you.at the end of the day it is all about finding the right owner's for the pup's that can give them happy,healthy long life's with the correct care for the dog along the way.

I took the little puppy to the heart specialist vet today, he says that the murmur has now gone totally, it was a panic over nothing after all. Thanks for all the advice though.

BRILLIANT!!! Hope she finds the home she deserves.
Dawn.

I also have cavaliers and am very glad to hear all is ok