Veterinarian Column: What you can learn through auscultation - What to do if you hear a murmur

by Alice's Dog & Cat獣医師

At the veterinary hospital, a physical examination is always performed during the consultation. Have you ever wondered what is being heard during auscultation, which is one of the physical examinations? Also, has your veterinarian ever pointed out a heart murmur after auscultation?

This time, we will explain what can be detected by auscultation of the heart and the murmurs of the heart.

Alice's Dog & Cat Veterinarian Column What you can tell by auscultation What to do if you hear a murmur

What do you listen to when auscultating the heart?

・Heart rate (abnormal rhythm)

・Heart murmur

 

Heart rate ( normal value: 60-120 beats/min for dogs, 120-180 beats/min for cats)

Check for arrhythmia.

・Tachycardia (more than normal)

It can occur due to excitement, tension, anxiety, pain, hyperthyroidism, fever, anemia, shock, etc.

When attending a medical appointment, your heart rate often becomes faster due to excitement and nervousness.

・Bradycardia (less than normal)

Caused by hypothyroidism, hypothermia, and heart sinus node disease

・Irregular heartbeat

 

heart murmur

Alice's Dog & Cat Veterinarian Column What you can tell by auscultation What to do if you hear a murmur

A heart murmur can be heard by auscultation when the heart valves do not close properly and blood is flowing backwards, or when there is a hole in the heart wall that is leaking blood.

If you hear an obvious murmur in your puppy or kitten, a heart malformation is suspected. In puppies, a functional heart murmur may be heard even though there is no heart disease.

Older dogs often have an audible heart murmur due to a disease called mitral regurgitation .

In addition to heart malformations and diseases, murmurs can also be caused by anemia, fever, hyperthyroidism, etc.

 

■ If you are told that you hear a heart murmur

Alice's Dog & Cat Veterinarian Column What you can tell by auscultation What to do if you hear a murmur

Check to see if the murmur requires testing or treatment. If the murmur is very weak in a young child or the murmur is physiological, observation may be required.

If it's a pathological noise

  • Where is the abnormality in the heart?
  • How serious is the disease?
  • Need for treatment, indication for surgery

you need to check.

 

heart examination

Alice's Dog & Cat Veterinarian Column What you can tell by auscultation What to do if you hear a murmur

Heart tests include the following test items as needed to provide a comprehensive diagnosis.

① Electrocardiogram test

Arrhythmia, cardiac hypertrophy, type of heart disease, etc. can be determined from the recorded waveforms.

②X- ray examination

The size (presence or absence of cardiac enlargement) and shape of the heart, as well as the condition of the lungs, will be examined.

③ Ultrasonic examination

Tests are performed to check whether the heart is functioning properly, including heart movement and blood flow. .

④ Blood pressure

Check for high blood pressure.

⑤Biomarker (blood test)

Check the degree of heart failure. This will be determined based on X-rays and ultrasound examinations.

 

 

If a heart murmur is heard, an X-ray or echocardiogram will be performed to determine the need for medication and the combination of medications. In the case of mitral regurgitation, which is common in older small dogs, it is said that there is no need to start medication unless there are symptoms, even if a murmur is heard, and an enlarged heart is not detected on X-ray or ultrasound examinations.

The important thing is to perform a heart test if your veterinarian tells you that you can hear a murmur. If your doctor tells you that you have a murmur, do a heart test to determine the cause and severity of the murmur.

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