Introduction
Heart murmurs are caused by turbulent blood flow inside the heart. They often result from a heart valve that does not seal completely, allowing some blood to leak through the defective valve when it otherwise shouldn’t. Heart murmurs can be congenital (the animal is born with them) or acquired, and the prognosis ranges from no clinical signs ever happening to the heart condition worsening and possibly becoming fatal. Your veterinarian will need to perform a thorough examination to determine the underlying cause of heart murmurs in your pet and to advise you about the available treatment options that will work best with your dog’s particular heart problem.
Treatment Options
Actually, treatment of heart murmurs per se is not a realistic option. “Murmurs” cannot be “treated.” They are really a clinical finding that can be the result of a number of things. It is the underlying cause of the murmur which must be detected, assessed and addressed by your veterinarian. These treatment options will vary depending upon the severity of the underlying condition. Many heart murmurs do not require “treatment” at all, even if the murmur is very pronounced. Minor heart murmurs can often be addressed by changes in diet such as putting your dog on low sodium dog food. Again, it is not the murmur itself that needs treatment, but the underlying cause of the murmur. Only your veterinarian can help you determine the cause of your dog’s heart murmur.