Does a Heart Murmur Mean a 12-Year-Old Maltese Has Heart Disease?
by Nancy
(New York)
I have been monitoring his respirations, no change.
In an older small dog, a murmur usually means mitral valve disease is already present. But many dogs live for years with it, and only a minority, roughly a third, go on to develop heart failure.
Tiring quickly and heaving sounds over the last week are a reason to see your vet soon. They may take chest X-rays or do an echocardiogram to check heart size, and the "heaving" could also be an airway problem common in small breeds. Keep counting his breathing while he's asleep, call your vet if it stays above 30 a minute, and go to an emergency vet if he struggles to breathe or collapses.
See heart murmurs in dogs for more.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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