A Dachshund’s heart murmur is a condition in which the blood flow through one of the heart’s four chambers is increased. It most often occurs in dogs with narrow chests, and it can be caused by a one-sided enlargement of the heart and infection or fluid retention. If your dog develops a Dachshund’s heart murmur, you must contact your veterinarian to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.
How Long Can a Dog Live With a Heart Murmur?
Heart murmurs are sometimes found in dogs by a vet during an examination. The murmur may be found, for example, in a dog with an enlarged heart. Murmurs are not always serious, and most of those detected in dogs are due to harmless conditions. However, depending on the cause of a murmur, a Dachshund can have a heart murmur for years before becoming life-threatening.
How Is a Heart Murmur Found?
Heart murmurs appear as swishing sounds when listened to with a stethoscope. The sound’s intensity will depend on how quickly blood passes through the valve or valves, causing the disturbance. An enlarged heart may not be audible when a stethoscope is used. That’s because not all parts of an enlarged heartbeat at once. In this case, you can feel the dog’s heartbeat on its back. Dogs with an enlarged heart tend to be more tired and less active.
The main problems in dogs with a heart murmur are an abnormal circulation rate. It can cause excessive fluid retention and cause damage to the heart as a whole. Damage isn’t likely to occur if the heart’s enlargement triggers the murmur, but if its other conditions cause it, it can lead to a life-threatening condition called congestive heart failure (CHF). CHF occurs when blood flow through one or more of the heart’s four chambers does not provide enough blood for all the body’s organs and tissues. Besides, heart failure can be caused by a condition in which the valve that separates two chambers of the heart does not function properly. This condition is treatable and can lead to sudden death if left untreated.
What causes a heart murmur?
Dogs with a Dachshund’s heart murmur are more likely to experience an increased blood flow through one of the four chambers of their hearts. This condition is also known as “regurgitation.” It transpires when too much blood flows to the lungs and not enough to the rest of the body. Besides, fluid retention can lead to a heart murmur because it can cause an increased output of blood from the heart.
A Dachshund’s heart murmur is present when born or develops after birth. Some dogs experience multiple causes of an enlarged heart, and these may produce more than one type of heart murmur. You must be aware of the cause and type of your dog’s condition before seeking treatment.
Will heart murmur kill a dog?
If a dog has a heart murmur, it will not automatically die. A murmur signifies that something is wrong with the heart and usually can be fixed. Making your dog go to the vet is essential to determine the murmur’s cause. Your dog may have a slight heart murmur but otherwise be healthy; it may live several years before problems arise.
The severity of the dog’s condition depends on how quickly blood flow through his heart is increased and how much fluid he retains. In some cases, fluid retention can be life-threatening even if a dog appears healthy.
How Is Heart Murmur Treated?
Treatment for a murmur depends on the cause and severity of the condition. Although most dogs with a heart murmur do not have any problems, some heart conditions are severe and require immediate treatment. For example, a dog with an enlarged heart may need surgery to correct its problem. In other cases, treatment may involve medication to help control fluid retention and swelling in the body or medication given to make the heart work less forcefully.
Most dogs that have a Dachshund’s heart murmur recover fully once their cause is corrected or if it remains a mild condition and treatment is not required. If your buddy has been identified with one of these conditions, you can expect an improvement over time.
What are the symptoms of the final stages of congestive heart failure in dogs?
1. Fluid retention due to heart failure
It causes an increased pulse rate and is the most common sign of congestive heart failure.
2. Other symptoms include:
- Increased demands for water
- Increased breathing rate, especially during exercise
- Weight loss despite an increase in appetite
- Lack of energy and exercise intolerance
- Collapse (can be sudden) or passing out
- Difficulty breathing, exercise intolerance that worsens over time
- Increased heart rate due to pulmonary edema and fluid accumulation in lungs
- Depression and lethargy
3. If fluid builds up in the chest cavity, it can cause severe respiratory distress and lead to death.
For centuries, a Dachshund’s heart murmur has been considered unlucky by some people (such as circus performers), though it is not considered a bad omen by most. If a dog has a heart murmur, this may be attributed to the belief that its heart will stop working during a critical incident or event in its life. Although a Dachshund’s heart murmur usually causes no harm to your dog, you should be aware of the signs of an enlarged heart or fluid retention and swelling in the body.
Do Dogs With Heart Murmurs Sleep More?
Dogs with heart murmurs or a heart murmur do not need to sleep more than dogs without a murmur. The main difference is that they might sleep with more apnea episodes and restless sleep.
Can a dog have a heart murmur and still be healthy?
Yes, most dogs with a small or medium-sized heart murmur do not have any problems associated with it. The only way for your vet to know if your dog has an enlarged heart or fluid retention is through x-rays and other diagnostic tests.
What medication is used to treat heart murmur in dogs?
A heart murmur is a common condition in dogs, and there are many different causes. You can treat some types of heart murmurs quickly with medication. For example, if your dog is overactive for a particular reason (i.e., excitement, stress), the vet may prescribe a sedative medication such as Acepromazine to help calm them down. It is easy and straightforward to do, and it has little or no side effects on your dog. However, some heart murmurs can only be treated by surgery. The vet will discuss different options with you depending on the animal’s condition.
Is anesthesia safe for dogs with a heart murmur??
In general, anesthesia is safe for dogs with a heart murmur. However, you must talk to your veterinarian about your specific case and ensure that the procedure will not be harmful to your pet.
Can my dog have a heart murmur and still be healthy?
A heart murmur is not a severe condition on its own. However, it can be associated with other conditions such as bloat or heart disease, both very serious. If you noticed changes in your dog’s behavior or have episodes of apnea or neurologic abnormalities during sleep, we recommend that you see a vet right away.
How Are Heart Murmurs Diagnosed?
History and Physical Exam
Your veterinarian will ask you for a medical history of your pet and may ask about changes in your pet’s breathing, exercise level, appetite, or personality. The veterinarian will do a physical exam to check the heart for the sounds’ loudness and timing. That is usually done with an ultrasound.
Chest X-rays
Chest X-rays are often used to rule out other issues such as pneumonia or heartworm disease.
Echocardiogram
An echo is an ultrasound that better looks at exactly how blood flows through your pet’s heart and valves. If it is unclear, then a left side issue could occur, or there may be an indication of a heart problem.
Cardiac Catheterization
If there is a weird sound, murmur, or irregular rhythm, then a cardiac catheter is needed to determine what the problem or cause may be.
How Is Heart Murmur Treated?
Treatment of heart murmurs depends on both the cause and severity of the condition. Treatment may include medication to control fluid retention and swell in the body or medications are given to make the heartbeat less forcefully. Surgery is another option for pets with enlarged hearts. Your veterinarian will discuss different options with you based on your pet’s specific case, and treatment may include medication, surgery, or a combination of both.
What Causes Heart Murmur?
The causes of a heart murmur are many and varied, but most are very benign. The most common cause is an enlarged heart or temporary enlargement of the heart caused by increased blood flow. The diagnosis is usually made with a stethoscope or with x-rays.
Tell your veterinarian about a Dachshund’s heart murmur if that is the case, and he or she will determine what caused it. If it is not amenable to treatment, he may recommend chemotherapy which may be recommended in severe cases.
How to tell that your dogs have a heart murmur?
To determine if your dogs have a heart murmur, your veterinarian will listen for one during a physical exam. If a heart murmur is found, he may recommend further tests.
What is the average life expectancy of dogs with heart murmurs?
Dachshunds have a lifespan of 12-14 years. Most dogs with a small or medium-sized heart murmur do not have any problems and live everyday lives. However, some murmurs can cause fluid retention in the lungs or other organs, leading to severe complications. If your dog does have an enlarged heart or fluid retention, their risk of sudden death increases as its condition worsens.
Types of Heart Murmur
Mild heart murmur
It is a normal, temporary condition that will go away once the cause is corrected.
Moderate heart murmur
Dogs with this heart murmur usually have some fluid retention and swelling of their body tissues.
Severe heart murmur
This type of heart murmur has other associated symptoms that indicate that there is a potential health issues. If it is not corrected, this can further cause the dog to become more symptomatic or progress to more severe problems such as death.
The very severe heart murmur
Dogs with this type of heart murmur are very sick and require immediate medical attention because they may have complications caused by their disease or condition.
SUMMARY
A Dachshund’s heart murmur is a condition in which the blood flow through one of the heart’s four chambers is increased. It most often occurs in dogs with narrow chests, and it can be caused by a one-sided enlargement of the heart and infection or fluid retention. If your dog develops a Dachshund’s heart murmur, you must contact your veterinarian to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.
The causes of dogs’ heart murmurs can vary. Common causes include physical trauma, infection, diseases, or heart defects. Some causes are known, and others remain unknown. The most common cause of a dog’s heart murmur is an enlarged heart that may occur due to high blood pressure or an infection in the left ventricle walls. Heart disease is also another common cause of a dog’s heart murmur.
If a dog has a Dachshund’s heart murmur, he will not die from it as long as no complications arise, such as enlarged organs or fluid retention in his lungs. With the proper treatment and medications, a small or medium-sized heart murmur may go away quickly. It is difficult to treat a severe heart murmur in a dog. Your dog may be able to live with it for an extended time if you can control the conditions that cause the murmur in its body.
Dogs with heart murmurs are often prescribed medications to reduce fluid retention or swelling in their lungs and other organs. It is also vital that your dog eats a healthy diet and gets plenty of exercises like walking and running if possible. Heart failure can be complicated to manage and control. If your dog’s heart murmur is severe, he may have to be put on medications to help him live a better quality of life.
Dogs with a great spirit usually do not suffer from heart murmurs.
Some heart murmurs are very faint, and some dogs may not have one at all. While an increase in heart rate due to a heart murmur won’t harm your dog, you should monitor any changes in their behavior and consult with your veterinarian if you notice any signs of lethargy or abnormal behavior.
