Whippet Pup Heart Murmur

[whippetpup]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

Hi all,

Was hoping for some advice/experience please. We are days away from picking up our currently 7.5 week old Whippet Puppy, she has just come from her microchipping and health check with a Grade 2 Heart Murmur.

We want to know how this will leave us with getting insurance, will this count as a pre existing condition and potentially cause issues in the future if we need to claim?

I understand this is a common issue in puppies, especially hounds, and could more than likely resolve itself!

Any advice will be gratefully received! Happy weekend!

 

[Shalista]

No advice just surprise heart murmur solidarity. just got my new 5 year old rescue back from the vet with a surprise grade 2 heart murmur as well. rescue never told us. we got our health insurance before our vet saw him so I cant comment on that. vet did say not to worry so long as he doesn't display any shortness of breath or coughing. poor little freddie has a bevy of health issues so I'm not going to worry about this one.

 

[whippetpup]

Thank you for your reply, it does make us feel better knowing that we’re not the only ones experiencing something like this.
Wishing you and your pup the best!

No advice just surprise heart murmur solidarity. just got my new 5 year old rescue back from the vet with a surprise grade 2 heart murmur as well. rescue never told us. we got our health insurance before our vet saw him so I cant comment on that. vet did say not to worry so long as he doesn't display any shortness of breath or coughing. poor little freddie has a bevy of health issues so I'm not going to worry about this one.

k you

 

[Hemlock]

Unfortunately insurance will regard this as a pre-existing condition. The good news is that it often resolves itself, especially with sighthoundy dogs that need more heart power than non-sighthound types.

 

[Georgie46]

Thank you for your reply, it does make us feel better knowing that we’re not the only ones experiencing something like this.
Wishing you and your pup the best!

k you

I know this thread is old but I just want to warn people that if your dog has a heart murmur, don’t let them give an anti sickness injection that has maropitant in it (usually called cerenia or vetemex). Go for an alternative if one is needed, as my dog had it and turns out he had heart disease and he went rapidly down hill in the space of a week to the point we had to put him to sleep. The vet didn’t inform me of the risks of this injection/drug (as they are supposed to do), so always ask first. I learnt the hard way.

 

[JoanneF]

I'm so sorry for your loss, that's helpful to know though.

 

[Georgie46]

I'm so sorry for your loss, that's helpful to know though.

Thanks Joanne

 

[RGC]

I know this thread is old but I just want to warn people that if your dog has a heart murmur, don’t let them give an anti sickness injection that has maropitant in it (usually called cerenia or vetemex). Go for an alternative if one is needed, as my dog had it and turns out he had heart disease and he went rapidly down hill in the space of a week to the point we had to put him to sleep. The vet didn’t inform me of the risks of this injection/drug (as they are supposed to do), so always ask first. I learnt the hard way.

I’m so sorry about your loss but many thanks for thinking of others.

 

[Hemlock]

So very sorry to hear of this.

 

[Georgie46]

Thanks, I really appreciate your condolences. I’m devastated and angry too, that the vet didn’t inform me before giving the injection as we had a right to know about any known risks of drugs. It feels very negligent of the vet. I’m worried they will continue to give this injection to other dogs with heart murmurs as their attitude was just “we’ve never come across a case that has affected a dog’s heart condition and think it’s very unlikely it was that which caused his rapid deterioration”. But then they would say that wouldn’t they, to cover themselves, and it’s just dismissing the point that they are meant to warn people of known risks. I had to look the drug up myself to discover these risks but it was obviously too late as it was after they’d given it him.

 

[JudyN]

That is really sad - I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[Georgie46]

That is really sad - I'm so sorry for your loss.

Thanks Judy

 

[Flobo]

I am so sorry for your loss also x

 

[excuseme]

We have (our daughter has a ) homebred Cocker Spaniel who is now 4 years of age, she was diagnosed with a grade 4 heart murmur at her 8 week puppy health check. She has yearly heart check ups and her murmur has never changed and is still a grade 4 now at 4 years.
She has NO medication but is kept lean and active and fed a raw diet, she goes beating during the shooting season and enjoys playing very fast chasing of balls and rough fighting with her mother (nothing stops her! ) She also walks many miles with our daughter on the South Downs on nice days and in the summer. (it keeps them both fit )

Our vet says that we will know when her time has arrived and when it does that he will be there for her.
He has never suggested that she has any medication for her heart and suggests that she is treated as any other active and healthy little dog.

We do not insure our dogs.