small terrier mix has heart murmur

Question
what is a heart murmur and what does it do to your dogs heart.

Answer
Allison -

A heart murmur occurs when the valves in the heart do not work sufficiently to prevent pumped blood from backing up as it is pumped into another chamber of the heart.  As the heart pumps, there is a lot of pressure and as the valve becomes weak, either due to disease or mechanically, it is unable to do its job.   

The murmur is simply a symptom of a problem in the heart.  the murmur will not do anything to the heart; it signals that the heart valve is weakened and is unable to properly prevent leaking of blood into the heart chambers.  

There are plenty of medicines to help your pet feel comfortable and improve the quality of life for your dog.  Talk with your veterinarian about medication that will make your pet more comfortable.

Best Regards,


Charlotte Sherrell, DVM