| Heart murmur in dogs can have the same risks as | | | | Most dogs with a murmur will show very little |
| they do in humans. Many will have a murmur that | | | | symptoms. The most common symptom to look for is |
| never develops into any severe complications, | | | | a dog who gets tired very quickly when they're |
| whereas other dogs with a murmur may be in the | | | | exercising. An inactive animal will obviously get tired |
| early stages of heart disease down the road. This isn't | | | | because they aren't in good physical condition: But if an |
| something you can diagnose at home by yourself in | | | | otherwise healthy dog seems to tire quickly -- get |
| most instances: Many heart murmur in dogs are found | | | | them to a vet for a checkup. |
| during yearly checkups, or any other time your | | | | Treatments |
| veterinarian may have reason to check your dogs | | | | There is no clear-cut treatments set aside for heart |
| heartbeat. | | | | murmur in dogs. Most of the changes that you, as an |
| In most cases your vet will detect what he/she | | | | owner will be able to make will be dietary ones. Like |
| believes is a possible murmur with a stethoscope, then | | | | humans, dogs are sensitive to the effects of sodium, |
| will schedule an Echo-cardiogram or X-ray to confirm | | | | high blood sugar levels -- so your best bet would be to |
| the presence of an actual murmur. Many owners may | | | | find a quality food that meets those requirements and |
| scoff at the thought of paying for such procedures: | | | | continue giving your pet regular exercise. In some |
| But it's important to keep in mind that they are indeed | | | | cases your pet may benefit from surgery to repair the |
| necessary, as a heart murmur in dogs is easily | | | | valves in their heart, but this is a rare form of |
| pinpointed with these procedures, while a stethoscope | | | | treatment. |
| may lead to a false diagnosis when nothing was | | | | Find out more on heart murmur in dogs and read many |
| wrong at all. | | | | interesting articles on pet health care. |