The prognosis depends on the underlying cause and at which stage the signs are recognized.

By Fran Pennock Shaw

A heart murmur is the sound of turbulent blood flow, signaling anything from a minor abnormality in the heart’s structure to a serious disease. While it’s not a disease in itself, veterinarians do consider it a red flag.

“Before an owner makes any decisions on treatment, you need to find out why the murmur is there,” explains Marc Kraus, DVM, faculty member at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and service chief of the cardiology section at Cornell University Hospital for Animals. “It’s like saying you have a toothache; if you don’t know the cause, how do you know what to do about it?” …

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