Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heart murmurs and blood flow in boxer puppies up to 3 years
By Höglund, K et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2011·Department of Anatomy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A prospective study of systolic ejection murmurs and left ventricular outflow tract in boxers.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of boxer puppies was monitored for heart murmurs as they grew from 7 weeks to 3 years old. The study found that the presence and loudness of these murmurs varied quite a bit among the puppies and even in the same dog over time. However, the flow of blood through the heart did not change significantly. This means that while some boxers may have heart murmurs as they grow, it doesn't necessarily indicate a serious heart problem. If your boxer has a murmur, regular check-ups with your vet can help monitor their heart health.
People also search for: boxer puppy heart murmur · dog heart murmur treatment · signs of heart problems in boxers
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence and progression of murmurs and the development of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) and flow velocities in the great arteries in boxer puppies through adolescence until three years of age. METHODS: Nineteen boxer puppies with or without a low-intensity murmur, but without evidence of congenital heart disease, were studied prospectively. Examinations were carried out at 7 weeks, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12 and 36 months of age by cardiac auscultation and Doppler echocardiography. RESULTS: Presence and intensity of heart murmurs varied in the same dog and between dogs, but flow velocities did not change. Estimated effective orifice diameter (EOD) and indexed EOD was significantly narrower than measured subvalvular and valvular diameters. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The variability in presence and intensity of low-intensity ejection murmurs is high during growth in boxers.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21143232/