Can a heart murmur go undetected?

Can a heart murmur go undetected?

When undetected or not closely followed, an abnormal heart murmur can create cardiovascular problems later in life or maybe sooner. A heart valve keeps blood moving in the heart.

Can a vet mistake a heart murmur?

No, there are diseases that can be present that induce heart murmurs with a normally functioning heart. Non-heart related causes of heart murmurs can include anemia, hyperthyroidism, or a rapid heartrate. Innocent heart murmurs occur when there is no structural heart abnormality.

How do you know if your cat has a heart murmur?

However, if you have been told that your cat has a heart murmur, you should watch for signs such as:

1. Difficult or rapid breathing.
2. Congestion or “noisy” breathing.
3. Loss of appetite.
4. Unexplained weight loss.
5. Weakness or lethargy (tiredness)
6. Collapse.

Can a cat’s heart murmur go away?

Some normal adult cats may have an intermittent heart murmur that shows up when their heart rate is increased due to stress. This type of physiologic murmur disappears when the heart rate is normal, and has no impact on the cat’s health.

What causes a kitten to have heart murmurs?

These are usually no longer present when the kitten is older. Anaemia is another cause of heart murmurs in cats, but the cats often show other signs of lethargy and anorexia as well.

Can a stethoscope detect a heart murmur in a cat?

Not all heart murmurs affect the health of your cat, but if heard, it may be best to still have your cat fully assessed. When your veterinarian uses a stethoscope to listen to your cat’s heart, an abnormal sound, known as a heart murmur, may be heard. Typically, the heart makes two distinct noises as the heart valves closes.

What does it mean when your heart is murmuring?

The loudest murmurs, suggesting more turbulence of the blood flow, can be heard over a wider area of the heart. Importantly, the significance of heart murmur does not depend just on the loudness: some quiet murmurs can indicate very serious disease, while some louder murmurs may be relatively benign.

Can a person with heart murmurs have surgery?

Any specific surgery will depend on the exact nature of the disease. Depending on the cause of the heart murmurs, the outlook ranges. Those diagnosed with innocent murmurs live healthy and normal lives, and require no recovery and minimal management beyond routine examinations.

What’s the life span of a cat with heart murmur?

The life expectancy depends on the cause of the murmur: cats with benign or innocent murmurs will have a normal life span, while cats with heart murmurs caused by life threatening structural defects of the heart may only live for months or a few years.

What should I do if my kitten has a heart murmur?

Likewise in young kittens that have a low-intensity murmur, the vet will just propose a re-evaluation in a few weeks. In the case that your cat presents symptoms or the murmur appears to be caused by an underlying problem, your vet may order several diagnostic tests.

The loudest murmurs, suggesting more turbulence of the blood flow, can be heard over a wider area of the heart. Importantly, the significance of heart murmur does not depend just on the loudness: some quiet murmurs can indicate very serious disease, while some louder murmurs may be relatively benign.

When do you know if your puppy has a heart murmur?

The severity and causes of congenital murmurs vary widely, but it is always recommended to have some baseline testing performed on puppies or kittens with a heart murmur that is greater than a grade 2 and still present after 5 to 6 months of age. An acquired murmur is one that develops later in life.