[Bionic]

I took Archie (min poodle) for his snip today and they have discovered he has a heart murmer. I am gutted.
 
They have taken some x-rays and we have left the vet looking at them. So for now I don't know what the prognosis is 
Sally

[doganjo]

Try not to worry too much. Lots of dogs have heart murmurs, so do humans. It may just be a leaky valve, and there are lots of medications available these days.  I don't remember how old he is, but if he's getting the snip he's not very old.  Youth is on his side.  Hope the news is good 

[jaykay]

Echo what Doganjo says, a friend's dog has just been diagnosed with a heart murmur too but the vet has said it really won't affect her life much 

[Bionic]

He is 10 months old. 
The vet asked if he was coughing and if it was affecting his walks i.e. getting out of breath.  I have never heard Archie cough and he is always full of life. I get out of breath on walks but he doesn't 
 
At the moment he is sleeping, recovering from his general anesthetic from the snip and they have put a plastic collar on him because he kept licking his wound. He won't like that when he comes too enough to realise whats going on.
 
Sally

[doganjo]

Hope they used dissolvable stitches so he doesn't have to have them taken out     Nothing much you can put on that part of his anatomy to stop him licking either    Wee soul 

[Rosemary]

I've got a heart murmur - didn't know until I was in my mid-40s when the docs found it by accident. Pretty common, I think.

Hope Archie is OK.

[smithycraft]

My German Shepherd was diagnosed with a heart murmur when she was a pup and I was devastated but she lived until the ripe old age of 14 which isn't bad for a large breed and never suffered from any heart related illnesses.

[in the hills]

One of my middle aged Flat coated Retrievers was diagnosed with a heart murmur, and although he needed medication, he went on to live til 14 years of age (which is a good age for a Flattie). He never slowed down or suffered in any apparent way.


   for your little lad. 

[kaz]

I know it's hard, but try not to worry too much. He must be fairly fit for the vet to do his operation. I know my Goldie has been a right pain with her stiches and has had to wear a buster collar and a teashirt (designer dog wear) to stop her getting to them. I'm just hoping that the vet will take the stiches out at 10days which is Friday.
I hope everything works out well for him.

[Bionic]

Thankyou for all the good wishes I will pass them on to Archie, who is still in the land of nod at the moment, and for those that have experience of the condition themselves. It has certainly helped put my mind at rest for the time being.
 
Sally

[HelenVF]

My old springer had a heart murmur.  Never stopped her beating or running around like a loon, but then having a leg amputated didn't either lol.  She died at 13 with very few health problems (apart from the leg!)

Helen

[doganjo]

That's interesting,  Helen.  Freckles Mum was a working dog and she had a leg amputation too - didn't stop her working on the state either.

[HelenVF]

It didn't stop Holly for a few seasons.  She was 7 when she had her back leg amputate and I think I retired her when she was 11 but by that time, she was only coming out for the odd drive as it was getting a bit much for her.  A lot of the people on the shoots never realised she only had 3 legs. 

Helen

[doganjo]

And I thought ceilidh was the only one  - probably the only Brittany working on three legs though 

[Mammyshaz]

Try not to worry too much until your vet has given a diagnosis. Some murmurs are nothing to worry about and he could live to a good old age. 

Get well soon Archie