How long can an old dog live with a heart murmur?

How long can an old dog live with a heart murmur?

Heart failure and heart disease can also be caused by heartworm disease, so making sure your dog is on a good heartworm prevention is crucial. Many dogs live a long time after being diagnosed with a heart murmur, and some can even live years after being diagnosed with heart failure.

What are the stages of a heart murmur in dogs?

Heart murmurs in dogs are graded on a scale of one to six. Grade I murmurs are the least serious and are barely detectable with a stethoscope. Grade II murmurs are soft, but your veterinarian can hear them with the help of a stethoscope. Grade III murmurs have a loudness that falls in the middle of grades II and IV.

Is a Grade 3 heart murmur in dogs serious?

Grade III murmurs have a loudness that falls in the middle of grades II and IV. Most murmurs that cause serious problems are at least a grade III. Grade IV murmurs are loud and can be heard on either side of the chest.

Can a dog suddenly develop a heart murmur?

An innocent or physiologic heart murmur is a heart murmur that has no impact on the dog’s health. It is very common for young puppies, especially large breed puppies, to develop an innocent heart murmur while they are growing rapidly.

Can diet cause heart murmurs in dogs?

It would be irresponsible for your dog’s heart murmur to be ONLY linked to diet-DCM without a definitive diagnosis as there are other causes of heart murmurs.

How serious is a Level 2 heart murmur in dogs?

Grade II murmurs are soft, but your veterinarian can hear them with the help of a stethoscope. Grade III murmurs have a loudness that falls in the middle of grades II and IV. Most murmurs that cause serious problems are at least a grade III.

Should I buy a puppy with a heart murmur?

A young puppy with a murmur could be perfectly healthy and grow out of it, or could have a congenital defect in the heart. The best diagnosis for your pup is what is known as an innocent murmur.