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Busta - Grade One Murmur

Claire

Well-known member
Hi Guys, such a long time since I have logged in - I now have to actually work at my new job, so Darren tends to check the site. Thought I would share the news I had yesterday, took Busta and Woody to the vet for their boosters both all okay, except the vet thinks that Busta has a very slight heart murmur - not every beat, maybe because he was nervous, etc. or just because he has one, he does'nt think any further tests are necessary just listening once a year. Do you think we need to get further tests done - the other vet at the practice has completed all the courses, etc. for heart murmurs do you think we should pay for him to have a listen???
 
Hi Guys, such a long time since I have logged in - I now have to actually work at my new job, so Darren tends to check the site. Thought I would share the news I had yesterday, took Busta and Woody to the vet for their boosters both all okay, except the vet thinks that Busta has a very slight heart murmur - not every beat, maybe because he was nervous, etc. or just because he has one, he does'nt think any further tests are necessary just listening once a year. Do you think we need to get further tests done - the other vet at the practice has completed all the courses, etc. for heart murmurs do you think we should pay for him to have a listen???
It's good to hear from you Claire!

Just to be on the safe side, you might want to have a cardiologist listen and grade his heart. Ask how often Busta needs to return for checkups, and what you should do if Busta needs an anesthetic in the future.

The reason for a cardiologist is that sometimes a vet will grade it lower than it actually is, not having the experience of a cardiologist. Plus the cardiologist may want an ultrasound of the heart.

Both Geordie and Chocolate have been diagnosed with slight murmurs, and a cardiologist has graded them. We're getting ready for a return appointment to see if there are any changes.
 
Hi guys thanks for the replies - he was three in May, he is not on any medication at all - he seems fine no coughing (except when he had kennel cough), runs like there is no tomorrow - I was at home all day of the booster and despite him licking the ears of the washing man repair man, he was asleep most of the day. I will speak the the specialist at the vets to say what he recommends.
 
Hi!

Personnally I would have a cardiologist take a listen too, your usual vet is the equivalant of a G.P doctor, I once had a puppy returned to me who had actually been passed by a standard vet AND a cardiologist as being fine whilst with me, only to have a newly qualified locum vet take a listen and seeing a Cavalier heard what they WANTED to hear and tell her new owners she had a grade 2 heart murmur! :yikes:

I was furious and had her re-tested, again clear, my vets went beserk claiming the other practice was questioning their professional reputation and ended up with the other practice paying my re-testing costs!!

Moral of the story? It never hurts to get a second opinion!!
 
I'd also want a cardiologist to listen. I wouldn't say it is urgent, but I would check with the local CKCS club as they often will have low cost cardiologist screenings at shows and pet owners are usually welcome to attend these though often you need to book in advance.

Take a dog to three different vets and they will probably all hear different things. Listening to hearts is really a specialist job if you want any precision -- even if a vet has done a course it is not the same as a cardiologist with experience and focus in this one area.

I have one vet I feel is particularly good at hearing murmurs so I like to have her give a listen to all my dogs and rescues. But still, tht isn;t a substitute for a cardiologist.

NB The UK CKCS Club bow requires a cardiologist cert to allow dogs to qualify for its healthy hearts listings. It used to accept vet grades but will no longer do this for the reasons others have noted.
 
Here's a chart I keep in the Health section of the library which shows how inaccurate vets are in comparison to cardiologists.

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Thanks for the replies, Darren has been on the site and there is a specialist in Guildford, when I asked for a referral from our vets it seems that their other surgery has the utlra scan machine and a vet most of her way through the cardio study - Adrian called on Friday but we missed the call, said he wasn't worried at this stage, but would call us on Monday to discuss.
 
Glad to see you are back Claire!

Sorry to hear about Busta..... I'm hopeful everything will be fine for him

Hugs from me and the boys
 
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