15 week BM/CC heart murmur

[Della]

We got our BM/CC mix and she had a heart murmur but was told by the breeder that she would out grow it. It's been 2 weeks since we got her and took her to the vet today for her second round of shots. The vet said she still has the heart murmur and will not out grow it. Did anyone have a puppy with a heart murmur? Did they out grow it?

 

[cayeesmom]

Luke had a slight murmur as a young pup, can not remember at what age it was gone. Moe [almost 5 moth ]had one too but that could been because he was so sick, he had a check up yesterday and is all good now.

 

[sjdavenport]

"Innocent" puppy murmurs are usually gone by 12 weeks of age, and 16 weeks at the very, very latest. Unfortunately I think your vet is likely right. She's probably not going to grow out of it at this age.

 

[DMikeM]

I found a vet that stated non specialist vets often confuse the second valve pump for a murmur on mastiffs. Have a vet that specializes in Heart checks look the dog over.

 

[Della]

The vet also said based on her weight(30lbs) and age (15 weeks and 3days) that she would only be 70lbs at adult age,and called her a "hybrid" so we should base her adult weight on her dad(cc) is 145lbs and mom(bm) is 125lbs. On her health record the vet that did her first check(nov 15/14)wrote,"grade 2 murmur. Check @ next vaccine likely will outgrow". My vet didn't like the fact that this vet wrote "likely will outgrow" and he would never write that. Vet also said that we should have done second round of shots 4 weeks after the first shots. He said he was ok with waiting til 18 months before spaying her but I felt he was trying to change my mind as he was saying there are serious health risks with her going into heat. I got the impression he doesn't have much or any experience with large breads, esp mastiffs.

 

[Max's mom]

Depending on your location, they have canine cardiologists. They probably need to do a special ultrasound called an "echo-cardiogram" to see for sure what's going on. When the vet thought she heard one with Max, (now gone) she suggested that we see cardiology if he did not outgrow.
Maybe since your vet is not that experienced with large breeds, go for a second opinion, but don't call attention to it right away. See if the new vet picks it up.

Good luck with your cute baby. I hope it's nothing but if confirmed hope she will do well.

 

[Della]

Depending on your location, they have canine cardiologists. They probably need to do a special ultrasound called an "echo-cardiogram" to see for sure what's going on. When the vet thought she heard one with Max, (now gone) she suggested that we see cardiology if he did not outgrow.
Maybe since your vet is not that experienced with large breeds, go for a second opinion, but don't call attention to it right away. See if the new vet picks it up.

Good luck with your cute baby. I hope it's nothing but if confirmed hope she will do well.

I do plan on taking her to another vet with large breed experience. I won't say anything to them and see if they pick up on murmur. Yeah I hope it's nothing as well.

 

[Boxergirl]

I know that they aren't supposed to outgrow a murmur after 16 weeks, but I had a different experience. I adopted a boxer fifteen years ago. He had been returned to the breeder because he had a rather highly graded heart murmur. He was almost six months old when I brought him home and I immediately took him to the vet. The vet, who had a crappy bedside manner, told me that he had a grade 4 murmur and I shouldn't waste my money on any vaccinations because he'd be dead before he was a year old. I had him vaccinated anyway. I drove home crying, holding him on my lap and telling him it didn't matter. That I'd love him for as long as he was with me. I was lucky enough to love him for ten years. We had a kiss my ass party every year. I'd had him to the vet numerous times during his last year and a murmur wasn't detected at all. As it turned out he passed from Addisonian crisis. It was an odd diagnosis for an old male dog, but all the vague symptoms he'd been having made sense. Xrays showed his his heart was significantly smaller than it should be, but that wasn't related to the early murmur at all, that was due to the Addison's. I would see a veterinary cardiologist if it were my dog. I should mention that throughout his life other vets did hear a murmur, but is was barely audible. Certainly not the grade 4 that the original two vets heard.

 

[Della]

I know that they aren't supposed to outgrow a murmur after 16 weeks, but I had a different experience. I adopted a boxer fifteen years ago. He had been returned to the breeder because he had a rather highly graded heart murmur. He was almost six months old when I brought him home and I immediately took him to the vet. The vet, who had a crappy bedside manner, told me that he had a grade 4 murmur and I shouldn't waste my money on any vaccinations because he'd be dead before he was a year old. I had him vaccinated anyway. I drove home crying, holding him on my lap and telling him it didn't matter. That I'd love him for as long as he was with me. I was lucky enough to love him for ten years. We had a kiss my $#@! party every year. I'd had him to the vet numerous times during his last year and a murmur wasn't detected at all. As it turned out he passed from Addisonian crisis. It was an odd diagnosis for an old male dog, but all the vague symptoms he'd been having made sense. Xrays showed his his heart was significantly smaller than it should be, but that wasn't related to the early murmur at all, that was due to the Addison's. I would see a veterinary cardiologist if it were my dog. I should mention that throughout his life other vets did hear a murmur, but is was barely audible. Certainly not the grade 4 that the original two vets heard.

Glad to hear he had a good life. Some hope for me to hold onto. She was originally diagnosed with a grade 2.

 

[Smokeycat]

I had a cat with a heart murmur. Hers was diagnosed at 6 weeks when I adopted her. She died from late stage kidney disease when she was 19.5 years. Her murmur ranged from not being noticeable to grade 2 at her vet appointments. It never bothered her. I know a cat and mastiff are completely different but wanted to share that having a murmur can be negligible to their life.

 

[DennasMom]

I wouldn't worry about a grade 2 murmur at all.
I'd say there's still plenty of opportunity to 'grow out of it'

I'm not sure I'd put any credence in the 70lb adult size expectation, either. My table shows a mastiff at 30% of their expected adult weight when 16 weeks old... that would put your pup over 100lbs when full grown. But, those are +/- 20% numbers... so nothing really to base plans on.

I personally had a murmur diagnosed in college, and it hung around for a few years. Never bothered me. Probably was stress induced.

I'd be very interested in having a vet with big-dog experience take a look, and see what they hear... this vet seems kinda negative??

 

[viclynsmastiff]

Oh my what a lie they don't ever go away. Murmur common in this breed aortic synopsis. Or cardiomyopathy. Depending on what grade but with proper meds every six months check. I have English I had one with a 3 and she passed at 5 you never know. I would do a ultrasound and find out where you really stand. I'm a retired AHT. 35 years they normally don't cost much it's finding a good doctor with heart.

 

[maryl]

We got our BM/CC mix and she had a heart murmur but was told by the breeder that she would out grow it. It's been 2 weeks since we got her and took her to the vet today for her second round of shots. The vet said she still has the heart murmur and will not out grow it. Did anyone have a puppy with a heart murmur? Did they out grow it?

There are many different types of heart murmurs. Some of witch they do "out grow". My experience is with Newfoundlands. The only way to truly diagnose what kind of murmur is to have the pup seen by a cardioligest. Good luck.

 

[viclynsmastiff]

I went to collage 3 years to do a tech I never heard a heart murmur go away ever

 

[marke]

I have , and have personally seen a pup outgrow it .... it's called an" innocent heart murmur" .......... it'll be in a puppy and a low grade ........

 

[Boxergirl]

Just to be clear for anyone actively looking for more information on murmurs and terms mentioned in this thread - it's aortic stenosis, not aortic synopsis. It's hereditary and common in boxers, newfoundlands, goldens and several other breeds. I'm sure it was just a typo, but in case anyone is looking for more information I thought I'd clarify.

 

[Pha8]

I went to collage 3 years to do a tech I never heard a heart murmur go away ever

We Picked up our 8 week old Cane Corso this passed Easter Sun and took her to our vet at 8 weeks 4days and was found to have a level 1/6 heart murmur. We were devastated to say the least (Not having any previous experience with large breed puppies or heart murmurs) but the vet said its common in large breeds and will more then likely fade away. A second visit to the same vet clinic a week later (Different Doctor) could not detect the murmur as per her file. At 10.5 weeks old a visit to another clinic to have a echo of her heart performed came back negative for a murmur and both the doctor and the tech could not detect it either! As for going to another vet for a second or third opinion! We visited 7 vet clinics and called another 3-4 before we found the right vet for our CC. A few clinics I approached either never had a CC walk through their door or only have experience with one and these were fair sized clinics that seemed pretty busy….with smaller, more common dogs that is.

Best of luck

Cheers

 

[fixitlouie]

My DOGO has a grade 5 he got a bad infection from a cut on his elbow on a hunt from a nasty boar. That was when hs was two. Since then he has hunted and caught his fair share. I watch him close. Check out some of my post....I would not worry about it.