Recently, Mika, who is now 14, was diagnosed with a heart murmur. The vet picked it up during a routine exam; he showed no outward signs of anything being wrong, so I was shocked.
A heart murmur is an abnormal sound heard during the heartbeat cycle. It’s caused by turbulent blood flow within the heart or blood vessels, resulting in a swishing or whooshing noise that can be detected with a stethoscope.
While heart murmurs can occur in any breed, heart murmurs in chihuahuas is relatively common, particularly as they age. According to the American Kennel Club, it’s the most common cause of death in chihuahuas as they reach their twilight.
There are two broad categories of heart murmurs in chihuahuas:
A congenital murmur is present from birth. Congenital murmurs are usually caused by a structural heart defect.
An acquired murmur becomes apparent later in life. It is usually due to heart valve abnormalities or cardiac muscle disease.
Heart murmurs are graded on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being mild and 5 being loud and easily detected. The first vet checked Mika and suggested he had a grade 2, and then a week later, another vet said a grade 3. So that was disappointing.
You can read an interesting article on what happens when your dog has a heart murmur here. But in a nutshell, an acquired heart murmur is the degeneration of one of the heart valves, most commonly the myxomatous mitral valve. The value becomes irregular and allows a backwash of blood into the left atrium.
Currently, Mika is not on any medication or had any tests apart from the vet listening to his heart, but a vet may diagnose a heart murmur in two ways.
An echocardiogram is non-invasive and usually done without anaesthesia or a sedative. It requires your dog to be still for around 20 minutes. Read more about this procedure here.
A blood test called pro-BNP (precursor of B-type natriuretic peptide), is a useful tool for monitoring as well, as pro-BNP levels rise in the face of cardiac muscle stretch and stress.
Symptoms of heart murmurs in chihuahuas:
While some chihuahuas with heart murmurs may not show any outward signs of illness, others may exhibit symptoms such as:
1. Coughing, especially at night or after exercise.
2. Exercise intolerance or decreased stamina.
3. Rapid or labored breathing.
4. Fainting episodes or weakness.
5. Fluid accumulation in the abdomen or limbs.
I’m keen to keep Mika as fit and healthy as I can, and I had a chat with a colleague who is a holistic vet. She advised the following.
- Keep your chihuahua at a healthy weight.
- Feed your dog a fresh, healthy, balanced diet. Not dry kibble that is carbohydrate-based muck.
- Give a good fish oil supplement. Not all fish oils are equal; we use Nordic Naturals. If your fish oil comes in a big bottle from the supermarket, chances are it’s not great. Read more about why fish oil is an all-round super supplement here.
- Add a coenzyme Q10 supplement. Coenzyme Q10 is a vitamin-like substance found throughout the body, especially in the heart, pancreas and liver. As a supplement, it has a vast array of uses but is commonly used for heart conditions and heart failure.
- Keep your chihuahua’s teeth clean. There is a proven link between the buildup of bacteria in the mouth and heart disease. A good oral hygiene routine would be very beneficial. Read more cleaning your chihuahuas teeth here.
If you’re managing a heart murmur in your chihuahua I would love to know how you’re getting on. Please leave a comment or join us on facebook.