Recent MVD diagnosis

[Kate H]

I stand corrected about the stethoscope - though I think I read there was a difference in one of the Cavalier Club's MVD reports. Anyway, agree entirely that cardios have better ears and better-tuned-to-murmurs brains!

Kate, Oliver and Aled

[RodRussell]

I stand corrected about the stethoscope - though I think I read there was a difference in one of the Cavalier Club's MVD reports. Anyway, agree entirely that cardios have better ears and better-tuned-to-murmurs brains!

I think that some stethoscopes are more sensitive than others, but listening for a murmur is not rocket science. It just requires some training and a lot of experience. I know of at least one CKCS breeder here in the US who auscultates dogs herself and has acquired a fair amount of experience doing so. She doesn't rely upon her exams of her own dogs, but when shopping for a puppy or a stud, she checks their hearts herself.

There are websites that offer the sounds of different heart beats and murmurs, so you could even train yourself, to a degree. For example, http://www.cardiaceducationgroup.org.../heart-sounds/