Heart Murmer In A Whippet Puppy

[waverley92]

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I took possession of my nine week old whippet puppy just ten days ago. The day before collection the whole litter had been given a clean bill of health by the breeder's vet. However three days later, when I took my pup to my vet he was diagnosed with a grade 2 heart murmer. I have no reason to doubt that the breeder was being anything but honest in her assertion that her vet did not find the complaint, and since then i have been informed by three other breeders that whippets do have a different heart beat that is quite normal. Is this the case? Also as his health insurance has not kicked in yet, how do i stand? Will this be classed as a pre-existing condition, or can i persuade my vet he has made a mistake? Does anyone know of a vet who specialises in whippets in the Worthing West Sussex area? When I was told of this complaint I was devastated as my last dog had the same problem. I would appreciate advice, and recommendation of a local whippet vet.

 

[marier05]

Hi there,

I have a 18 month old whippet when she was 8 weeks (i think) i took her to the vet to get her all vaccinated and checked they thought they could hear a murmur.

I didnt totally dismiss it but i know that a whippets heartbeat can sound slightly different, so i took it on board and was going to keep getting it checked. Also a puppy at the vet at that age is quite an experience for them and they are a bit unsettled which makes their heart beat faster, which makes it difficult for them to hear. (This is what the vet told me)

Anyway i took her back to get it checked when she was a bit older - i think it was at about 4 months and nothing was detected and i had 2 vets listen just incase.

Last had her checked at her yearly booster and she was as sound as a bell!

I wouldnt worry too much.

Marie. :huggles:

 

[jok]

I honestly feel you are worrying unnecessarily about this. If it was my 10 week old pup and a standard vet told me that, i wouldn't be at all concerned.

In America Dr. Rebecca Stepien and Dr. Virginia Luis-Fuentes have been carrying out heart studies in relation to Whippets. Their study at The National in 2004 found that in excess of 90% of the Whippets they screened had a heart murmur of some degree! I do have the findings of that years study, but didn't want to post it all to confuse you further.

One of my bitches has a grade 1/2 murmur (this is classed as low grade). The subsequent scan she had as part of her heart screening done by a cardiologist, showed that this murmur was not caused by any valve deficiency, but what is often known as an 'ejection murmur'. Ejection murmurs are most commonly heard in thin, athletic animals with large hearts. Perfectly normal for a Whippet therefore and NOT heart disease.

Yes, murmurs can be a sign of disease (mitral insufficiency, tricuspid insufficiency etc) but i'd place my months wages on this not being the case with your 10 week old pup.

When our puppies went off to their new homes, i told the owners not to be unduly alarmed if the vets told them their new pup had a murmur (although none did incidentally). Standard vets, rather than cardiologists, often misdiagnose a heart murmur in Sighthounds, or do not actually provide the owner with the correct information, scaring them half to death!

 

[TC]

I honestly feel you are worrying unnecessarily about this.  If it was my 10 week old pup and a standard vet told me that, i wouldn't be at all concerned.
In America Dr. Rebecca Stepien and Dr. Virginia Luis-Fuentes have been carrying out heart studies in relation to Whippets. Their study at The National in 2004 found that in excess of 90% of the Whippets they screened had a heart murmur of some degree!  I do have the findings of that years study, but didn't want to post it all to confuse you further.

One of my bitches has a grade 1/2 murmur (this is classed as low grade).  The subsequent scan she had as part of her heart screening done by a cardiologist, showed that this murmur was not caused by any valve deficiency, but what is often known as an 'ejection murmur'.  Ejection murmurs are most commonly heard in thin, athletic animals with large hearts.  Perfectly normal for a Whippet therefore and NOT heart disease.

Yes, murmurs can be a sign of disease (mitral insufficiency, tricuspid insufficiency etc) but i'd place my months wages on this not being the case with your 10 week old pup.

When our puppies went off to their new homes, i told the owners not to be unduly alarmed if the vets told them their new pup had a murmur (although none did incidentally).  Standard vets, rather than cardiologists, often misdiagnose a heart murmur in Sighthounds, or do not actually provide the owner with the correct information, scaring them half to death!

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A very good post for putting people's minds at rest.

I think you'll find there are hundreds of whippet owners out there who have been told their pup has a heart murmur, only to find it has disappeared by the time they go back for the second vaccination.

Good luck with your pup and try not to worry :thumbsup:

TCx

 

[saraquele]

totally agree with what both ladies above have said , dont worry , im sure he will be fine :thumbsup:

 

[dragonfly]

I took possession of my nine week old whippet puppy just ten days ago. The day before collection the whole litter had been given a clean bill of health by the breeder's vet. However three days later, when I took my pup to my vet  he was diagnosed with a grade 2  heart murmer. I have no reason to doubt that the breeder was being anything but honest in her assertion that her vet did not find the complaint

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How commendable of your breeder to take the puppies to her vet for a health check, by no means everyone does this. As other posters have said it will probably have dissapeared in a few weeks. Get a sighthound expert to have a listen.

Good Luck with your puppy.

Cathie

 

[AnnSa]

I was told the same about Zana but im not unduly

worried as i have read other post's on here about

whippets and murmers.

 

[GotWhippet?]

I only use vets that are experienced with sighthounds. We have used the same vet (his main gig is racing greyhounds) for 18 yrs.

I presume there would be many greyhound vets in the UK so why not see if you can find one.

 

[maggie217]

One of my bitches has a grade 1/2 murmur (this is classed as low grade).  The subsequent scan she had as part of her heart screening done by a cardiologist, showed that this murmur was not caused by any valve deficiency, but what is often known as an 'ejection murmur'.   Ejection murmurs are most commonly heard in thin, athletic animals with large hearts.  Perfectly normal for a Whippet therefore and NOT heart disease.

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When Ruby had her check up, the vet and I were chatting about sighthound's hearts and he told me the same thing - he said the large heart and lack of body flesh can make the heart sound 'strange' to someone not accustomed to it.

I would find a vet used to sighthounds - just to set your mind at rest.

Pauline

 

[jok]

One of my bitches has a grade 1/2 murmur (this is classed as low grade).  The subsequent scan she had as part of her heart screening done by a cardiologist, showed that this murmur was not caused by any valve deficiency, but what is often known as an 'ejection murmur'.   Ejection murmurs are most commonly heard in thin, athletic animals with large hearts.  Perfectly normal for a Whippet therefore and NOT heart disease.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

When Ruby had her check up, the vet and I were chatting about sighthound's hearts and he told me the same thing - he said the large heart and lack of body flesh can make the heart sound 'strange' to someone not accustomed to it.

Pauline

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Yes that's right Pauline. It is quite worrying to be honest that so many vet's do not know this and unduly worry new owners half to death.

 

[Seraphina]

As everybody else already said; it is most likely nothing to worry about, but do keep the breeder informed.

My vet always listens to the puppies' hearts; first when he comes to check them & their mum the day after they were born, and again when he gives them their first vaccinations.

However, ordinary vets can easily miss a problem, or they can misinterpret beat which is normal.

:luck: :luck: :luck:

 

[Debbie Reed]

Hi There Waverley

I live close to you (just outside Henfield) and I, along with a lot of Whippet owners in the area, tend to go to Hawthorne Veterinary Practise at Partridge Green. Not sure if I am allowed to post their telephone No here.

Although they are not specialists in Whippets they do deal with a lot of them and have an understanding of the breed, especially Malcolm Wilde.

They also run puppy parties so they can be social with other young puppies. Noisy but great fun!

I bred a puppy who had a heart murmur and by the time she had her second jab it had totally disappeared. She is now 3 years old with no problems at all.

If you are interested, several of us go to obedience/ringcraft at Washington on a Thursday evening.

Please PM me if you need any more info or fancy meeting up.

Debbie

 

[~JO~]

I honestly feel you are worrying unnecessarily about this.  If it was my 10 week old pup and a standard vet told me that, i wouldn't be at all concerned.
In America Dr. Rebecca Stepien and Dr. Virginia Luis-Fuentes have been carrying out heart studies in relation to Whippets. Their study at The National in 2004 found that in excess of 90% of the Whippets they screened had a heart murmur of some degree!  I do have the findings of that years study, but didn't want to post it all to confuse you further.

One of my bitches has a grade 1/2 murmur (this is classed as low grade).  The subsequent scan she had as part of her heart screening done by a cardiologist, showed that this murmur was not caused by any valve deficiency, but what is often known as an 'ejection murmur'.  Ejection murmurs are most commonly heard in thin, athletic animals with large hearts.  Perfectly normal for a Whippet therefore and NOT heart disease.

Yes, murmurs can be a sign of disease (mitral insufficiency, tricuspid insufficiency etc) but i'd place my months wages on this not being the case with your 10 week old pup.

When our puppies went off to their new homes, i told the owners not to be unduly alarmed if the vets told them their new pup had a murmur (although none did incidentally).  Standard vets, rather than cardiologists, often misdiagnose a heart murmur in Sighthounds, or do not actually provide the owner with the correct information, scaring them half to death!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

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Yep excellent post :thumbsup:

A murmur in a sighthound is not uncommon, and there are 'normal' murmurs and obviously murmurs which indicate somthing far more sinister going on. Also in whippets and other sighthounds they hear murmurs that they just wouldn't ever be able to hear in non-sighthound breeds due to the physical characteristics of the dog

The only way to find out if it is 'normal' is an echocardiograph - but in a puppy I REALLY wouldn't worry!

 

[05whippet]

I honestly feel you are worrying unnecessarily about this.  If it was my 10 week old pup and a standard vet told me that, i wouldn't be at all concerned.
In America Dr. Rebecca Stepien and Dr. Virginia Luis-Fuentes have been carrying out heart studies in relation to Whippets. Their study at The National in 2004 found that in excess of 90% of the Whippets they screened had a heart murmur of some degree!  I do have the findings of that years study, but didn't want to post it all to confuse you further.

One of my bitches has a grade 1/2 murmur (this is classed as low grade).  The subsequent scan she had as part of her heart screening done by a cardiologist, showed that this murmur was not caused by any valve deficiency, but what is often known as an 'ejection murmur'.   Ejection murmurs are most commonly heard in thin, athletic animals with large hearts.  Perfectly normal for a Whippet therefore and NOT heart disease.

Yes, murmurs can be a sign of disease (mitral insufficiency, tricuspid insufficiency etc) but i'd place my months wages on this not being the case with your 10 week old pup.

When our puppies went off to their new homes, i told the owners not to be unduly alarmed if the vets told them their new pup had a murmur (although none did incidentally).  Standard vets, rather than cardiologists, often misdiagnose a heart murmur in Sighthounds, or do not actually provide the owner with the correct information, scaring them half to death!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Yep excellent post :thumbsup:

A murmur in a sighthound is not uncommon, and there are 'normal' murmurs and obviously murmurs which indicate somthing far more sinister going on. Also in whippets and other sighthounds they hear murmurs that they just wouldn't ever be able to hear in non-sighthound breeds due to the physical characteristics of the dog

The only way to find out if it is 'normal' is an echocardiograph - but in a puppy I REALLY wouldn't worry!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

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Excellent posts!! :thumbsup: I agree with all that has been said and have had first hand experience of this with GP vets who don't understand our breed, you really do need to get to see one who is "offay" with sighthounds/longdogs they are worth their weight in gold!

I also agree with Cathie's "Dragonfly" comment about how commendable it was of the breeder to have the puppies health checked before they left,as she said not all breeders do this but it is a great comfort to both breeder and new puppy owner to have had this done.

 

[chelynnah]

I took my pups for a health check (pat myself on the back LOL). I just figured that way if there was a problem *I* would know ahead of time (btw my vets LOVE listening to sighthound hearts because they are SO clear to hear). It was for my piece of mind so that I could say when they left they were healthy to the best of my (and my vets) knowledge. As with anything there are no guarantees. I still expected that they get their own vet to check them out as well for THEIR piece of mind. As it was everyone was healthy both in my health screening and theirs.

As everyone else has said, I wouldn't worry unduly at this point. Wait till the follow-up jab and see if things are different. If your vet is still concerned go visit one familiar with sighthounds. It's unlikely that it's anything serious, but not impossible (I've heard of a case recently, but it was very severe - and not in this country before people start speculating).

Congrats on your new baby.

Wendy