
The breath in the heart of dogs ago reference to a turbulence that occurs in the circulation of blood when it passes through this organ.There is no talk of a blow in the figurative sense since, truly, with a phonendoscope, it is usually possible to hear a breath , more or less strong, between the beating of the heart.
In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will talk in detail about this health problem.We will explain what causes can cause a murmur, what are its symptoms and, of course, which treatment will be the most appropriate, always prescribed by a veterinarian.
Causes of murmur in dogs' hearts
We can find different types of heart murmur in dogs depending on their severity.The most serious are caused by a disease or heart failure in dogs, such as a chronic valvular disease , congenital heart disease or bacterial endocarditis.A anemia could also cause a murmur.There are other mild murmurs, which are called " innocent ", which do not imply the existence of a disease and result from a degree that can be considered normal turbulence in the passage of blood through the heart.
The veterinarian with a simple auscultation can detect the murmur , but You will have to determine what your severity is by using tests such as chest x-ray, electrocardiogram or echocardiogram .These tests are also performed when murmur is suspected but not detected with the phonend or there are doubts.

Symptoms of heart murmur
The murmur in the heart of dogs is, in itself, a symptom that there is a alteration at the cardiac level .With such a problem it is normal that we notice that Our dog has a breath and coughs a lot, since cough is a very common symptom in dogs suffering from a murmur.This is more frequent at night or after physical activity.
Depending on the causative disease , which the veterinarian should identify, we can detect other symptoms of heart murmur of dogs:
- Lethargy
- Exercise intolerance
- Fainting
- Thinning
- Breathing changes
- Fever
- Joint inflammation
- Lameness
- Behavioral disorders
- Seizures
The heartworm, is it a cause of breath?
We must mention apart the filariosis in dogs , since it is an emerging disease that could be behind the murmur in the heart of dogs.It is a parasitic pathology caused by worms that invade the pulmonary arteries and the right ventricle of the heart.In more serious infestations the vena cava and liver can be affected.
Their presence inside these structures so delicate it is capable of causing significant damage, to the point of causing the death of the dog.On the other hand, the elimination of worms from the parasitized animal's organism can also produce important side effects .
Therefore, the best treatment is prevention.This disease is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito so, if we avoid it, we will be protecting the dog from contracting filariosis.To that end, various products with action have been created protective.or veterinarian will advise us the best for our case.
Heart murmur in puppy dogs
When a murmur is detected in the hearts of younger dogs, this is usually due to a congenital heart disease .In these cases there are several situations, depending on the defect in the heart severe, moderate or mild.In serious problems puppies usually die before reaching their first year of life.
When the defect is moderate, the dog lives but with symptoms such as intolerance to exercise, fainting or rickets.Instead, puppies with Slight affectations are usually asymptomatic and the disease can be detected precisely when the veterinarian perceives a murmur in a routine examination.
There are congenital diseases that produce malformations in the valves or their narrowing, incorrect communications between the different chambers of the heart, persistence of ducts that should have been closed at birth or Tetralogy of Fallot, pathology in which four cardiac abnormalities occur.The management and prognosis of the affected puppy will depend on the cause, which should determine the veterinarian after tests such as those already mentioned.
I blow in the heart of an older dog
The murmurs are more common in older animals, as they are associated with diseases due to the degeneration of this muscle due to age.In many cases they are dogs that they remain asymptomatic because the heart is capable of compensating for its failures even for years.
Thus, veterinary check-ups are the basis of an early detection of any heart disorder, well, yes We hope to appreciate some symptoms, we can reach the clinic with an already very advanced disease.
Although in older dogs, heart ailments are usually incurable and degenerative , we can treat them as soon as possible Possible will improve the quality of life of the dog, which increases its life expectancy.Even so, the prognosis will be based on the damage that has occurred.
Treatment of the murmur in the heart of dogs
As we see, there are several diseases that may be involved in the appearance of murmurs, so it is essential that the veterinarian get to reach the diagnosis , so that we can schedule the treatment more appropriate.In general, a specific low-salt diet, controlled exercise and several medicines for the heart of dogs that facilitate its operation and control the symptomatology that can occur are scheduled.
When the diseases are congenital and affect puppies, in some cases it is necessary to resort to surgery , which will be more or less complicated according to the damage found in the heart.If there is a bacterial endocarditis , that is, an infection, the treatment of choice will include antibiotics.In cases of filariosis, before deciding on a medication, the amount of filarias present, its location and the condition of the dog must be clear.
This article is merely informative, in Animals and Pets Online we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis.We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in case you present any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to I blow in the heart of dogs-Causes, symptoms and treatment , we recommend that you enter our Cardiovascular Diseases section.
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