My chihuahua is an 8 year old male- in otherwise good health
2006-09-30 06:01:44 · 2 answers · asked by Lora r 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Heart murmurs are very common in aging dogs, purebred and mixed breed alike. Some breeds are more predisposed to heart defects, but murmurs are often times in dogs over seven a result of normal aging changes.
A heart murmur is, in simple terms, when the valves that help your dogs heart pump become weak. The seal they create between chambers of the heart isn't as tight as it once was, and some blood 'sloshes' between chambers of the heart during a beat. Murmurs are graded on a scale of one to six, with higher numbers being more serious.
Often times, nothing is done to treat a murmur. It's simply monitored over time and checked at each vet visit. If your dog seems to become unusually fatigued from exercise, or develops a cough, these can be a sign of more serious heart troubles that may require further treatment or diagnostics. Otherwise, your dog will probably continue to function normally, and have many good years left!
2006-09-30 06:15:33 · answer #1 · answered by sjlawson12 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ask a vet how to Take Care of ur Pup
2006-09-30 06:07:48 · answer #2 · answered by asekay79 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋