Many people ask us why annual wellness exams are necessary for their pet. We hear from clients every day wondering this very thing. For some lucky pets, it is the only time of the year we see them. The annual exam allows us to remain in compliance with the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association Veterinarian-Patient-Client Relationship. More importantly, the annual wellness exam allows us to detect health issues that if go unnoticed, could affect a pet’s health and longevity. One good example of this is the finding of a heart murmur.
What is a heart murmur?
A heart murmur is an extra “whooshing” sound that is heard between heart beats made by turbulent blood flow through the heart and vessels.
Pictured above is a video of an echocardiogram being performed on a normal heart. This patient had a newly acquired heart murmur.
Why do dogs get heart murmurs and what do I do if one is heard?
Heart murmurs may be heard for several different reasons. Some are “innocent” murmurs and nothing to be concerned about. While other murmurs are indicative of structural problems or even non cardiac disease. Investigating a heart murmur may include but is not limited to a Complete Blood Count to detect anemia, Chemistry Panel to look at cardiac enzymes and Chest X-Rays to evaluate the heart and lungs. Perhaps most importantly, the echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart that determines the cause of the murmur and the severity of the heart disease. This allows us to determine if treatment is needed. Early detection and treatment if indicated has been shown to prolong the lifespan of our patients.
What are my options?
Option 1:
Dr Bryan Bottorff is a veterinary cardiologist that started Cascade Veterinary Cardiology in 2020. He is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine with a specialty in cardiology. He brings an expertise to central Oregon that was not previously locally accessible. His website is:
Dr Bottorff’s home base is at the Bend Animal Emergency center which is located at 1245 SE 3rd Street.. Appointments to see Dr Bottorff can be made by calling that facility and talking to them directly.
Dr Bottorff also comes to Riverside Animal Hospital every other Tuesday to perform Echocardiograms and consult on patients. If your pet develops a heart murmur, arrhythmia, exercise intolerance or fainting spells, your veterinarian may recommend a consultation with him to better identify the cause and make a treatment plan.
Option 2:
Alternatively, the echocardiogram can be performed at Riverside Animal Hospital by Dr Gretchen Row, a local ambulatory veterinarian. Dr Row has extensive training performing this test. She was certified with the International Veterinary Ultrasound Society in 2008 and recertified in 2018. She has been practicing veterinary medicine for 35 years with the last 20 years being exclusively ultrasonography of the heart and abdomen. After the procedure, your primary care veterinarian will manage the condition and make recommendations moving forward.
Please feel free to ask a veterinary team member if you questions regarding annual exams, heart murmurs or the health of your pet!