What Happens After Diagnosis

Veterinarian: “I hear a heart murmur.”

For many families, that moment brings instant worry. The word heart alone can sound serious, and questions start racing. Is my pet in danger? Do they need treatment right away? What happens next?

The reassuring news is that a heart murmur is not a diagnosis by itself. It is simply a sound that tells your veterinarian we should look more closely.

Here is what typically happens after a murmur is discovered.

Step 1: Understanding what a murmur means

A heart murmur is an extra or unusual sound heard between heartbeats as blood flows through the heart. Murmurs are graded based on how loud they sound, but volume alone does not determine severity.

Some murmurs are harmless and never cause problems. Others may indicate valve disease, structural heart changes, or congenital conditions.

Your veterinarian considers factors like your pet’s age, breed, symptoms, and murmur characteristics to decide whether referral to a cardiologist is recommended.

Pets who are tiring easily, breathing faster than normal, or showing exercise intolerance are more likely to need further evaluation.

Step 2: Seeing a cardiologist

A veterinary cardiologist performs an echocardiogram, or heart ultrasound. This painless, noninvasive test allows specialists to see the heart in motion.

An echocardiogram evaluates:

• Valve function

• Heart chamber size

• Pumping strength

• Blood flow direction and speed

Most pets tolerate the procedure very well and usually do not need sedation. Families often find the appointment calmer than expected.

This imaging allows specialists to determine whether the murmur represents mild changes that simply need monitoring or a condition requiring treatment.

Step 3: Deciding what happens next

Once imaging is complete, the cardiologist discusses results and recommendations with you.

Depending on findings, your pet may:

• Need no treatment, only periodic monitoring

• Begin medication to support heart function or control symptoms

• Receive follow-up imaging to track changes over time

Some pets never require treatment at all, while others benefit from early medical management that helps them feel better and live comfortably for years.

“Many pets with murmurs live completely normal lives,” says Dr. Ivan Sosa-Samper, Veterinary Cardiologist at Boston West. “The key is identifying which murmurs are due to a heart condition that needs treatment and which simply need monitoring, so we can guide families with confidence.”

Turning uncertainty into a plan

Hearing that your pet has a heart murmur can feel unsettling at first. But with proper evaluation, most families leave with clarity and a plan tailored to their pet’s needs.

Answers replace fear with understanding. Monitoring replaces uncertainty with confidence.

And that reassurance, paired with advanced heart care close to home, is Expert Care. Local Heart. in action.