Breed Health Score
cardiac

Heart murmurs in dogs

An abnormal sound caused by turbulent blood flow through the heart, heard with a stethoscope. Murmurs can be harmless or a sign of underlying heart disease, so they usually prompt further investigation to find the cause.

4 of the 155 breeds we track are commonly associated with Heart murmurs, including Border Terrier, Lowchen, Sussex Spaniel, Japanese Chin. Across these breeds median lifespans range from 12.5 to 14.2 years.

Heart murmurs in dogs: quick facts

Type
cardiac condition
Breeds affected
4 of the 155 breeds we track
Severity (as scored)
Standard hereditary condition

Plain-English definitions of these terms are on the glossary. On the Breed Health Score, Heart murmurs is weighted as a standard hereditary condition within a breed's overall burden. This describes how our data weights the condition, not a diagnosis.

Breeds commonly associated with Heart murmurs (4), ranked by health score

90
Border Terrier14.2 yr · small
87
Lowchen13.9 yr · small
81
Sussex Spaniel13.5 yr · medium
65
Japanese Chin12.5 yr · toy

Related cardiac conditions

Dilated cardiomyopathyMitral valve diseaseARVC (cardiomyopathy)Aortic stenosisCardiac diseaseJuvenile dilated cardiomyopathyMitral valve dysplasiaPatent ductus arteriosus

Products that may help

General care products for dogs prone to Heart murmurs. Browse on Amazon → Ad

Note. Breed associations are compiled from RVC VetCompass / AKC / PDSA and are indicative, not a diagnosis or veterinary advice. Browse all conditions or the breed directory.