Has anyone ever heard the term Psycological Murmur?

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

Is this the same as an Innocent murmur?  I informed the breeder that my dog has a murmur and forwarded her the ultra sound.  The radiologist described it as an innocent murmur but the breeder is insisting it's a psycological murmur and therefore self induced?  The purchase agreement has a health guarantee against heart defects does this not fall under that clause?  My vet insists a murmur is a murmur and I need to be aware and alert and with each check up he continues to hear the murmur (over a year and a half now).  My baby girl does suffer from separation anxiety.  Do I need to be concerned and call the breeder on the carpet for it or walk away?   

In her two years without a doublt she is more suseptible to airborne bugs.  Example; she got kennel cough and within a few days it was pneumonia while our other dog was over it within days?  I was off work for over a week nursing her back to health (steam showers, chest compressions with tons of meds three times a day) and it was still another couple of months before she was herself again!

The health guarantee offers a replacement dog (and they will let me keep her).  The average life span of my dogs has been 14-15 years and I hate the idea I paid good money for a healthy dog and didn't get one what happens if she gets sick and I lose her before our long life together?  Am I off base or should the breeder take some responsibility in providing me a healthy dog? 

I know with this one I have become the crazy obsessed dog lady?  Not sure if it's my older age or the fact I hand picked this one?  All my other dogs were unusual (spontaneous) rescues/chance meetings.

Please I need some sound advice.  Family and friends are less than supportive and feel I should just return her for a healthy dog!  The clincher is a family member made a comment about her gait - possible pontential hip dsyplasia (pace and bunny hop)?  My next move is to get health insurance but her murmur is an issue and rasing rates! Funny the insurance finds the murmur an issue but the breeder doesn't????

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's not " psycological", lol. It's physiological, and the terms is used interchangably with "innocent" when describing heart murmurs in dogs. Same thing.

 Whether an innocent murmur (my DD's pediatrician calls it a functional murmur) would be covered under the terms of the health warranty would depend on the wording; they often specify "life-altering" or "life-changing" conditions, which would not include an innocent murmur. As to whether the heart murmur is related to the fact that she seems to be more susceptible to "bugs" or whether it will affect her life-span would be something your vet would have to address. My understanding is that an innocent or physiologic murmur has no impact on a dog's health, and the veterinary literature does support that:http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/ani...

I would question the insurance company on whether this is fact an issue. Perhaps your vet can help with that.

At any rate, I would not worry too much about losing her at an early age. There are all kinds of things that can happen, and we have no control over that. Love her, take good care of her, and expect a long, healthy life for her. :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think you mean physiologic murmur, which is the same as an innocent or functional murmur. Generally these are nenign but certainly not self induced. How can you family suggest you return her? As for insurance I don't know. But it is a good idea regardless. Maybe the vet can explain this better for you.

Here is an article:

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/ani...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

GMTA, F! 

[F, Calla & Luca]

: )

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Another good article: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=2488

[Marcey Peyser Friedman]

A  physiologic or innocent murmur even in kids is NOTHING...it is just that you can hear the blood flow through the heart but it is not an abnormal sound. It is misleading and often parents panic that their kids have a heart problem. In kids you hear the murmur more during illness or fever because the heart rate increases and cardiac output increases. You can look on the Cinncinatti childrens web site under cardiac conditions and search innocent or physiologic murmur and get a better definition. Again it is INNOCENT..that's why it is called that and there is nothing wrong with the heart on these kids/dogs. The other comforting thing is if an echo was done on the dogs heart and showed nothing you have nothing to worry about. I hope this helps you.

Marcey

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

If you're looking at insurance be sure to check on their definition of pre-existing conditions.

I cannot imagine you could actually return a dog you've had for 2 years - that you have cared enough to take time off work to nurse her back to health when she had pneumonia.You're the only people she's ever know.

As far as your getting short-changed because you paid good money for a healthy dog and didn't get one....I paid good money for my golden retriever, but regardless of good food, regular check ups, exercise and tons of love, he died at 4 1/2 from lymphoma. But they were a WONDERFUL 4 1/2 years. Like with humans, you never can tell. Enjoy every day with her, play with her, cuddle her and laugh with her.

If there is a "possible potential of hip dysplaysia", that is the same with all large breed dogs. And even with careful screening by the breeder, all it takes is 2 recessive genes to get together. If she ends up showing signs of dysplasia, do what I'm doing with my Connor - find a good DVM who's certified in acupuncture, make sure she's getting high quality food and high quality supplements and light exercise.

And from what I've seen 14-15 years is a looooong lifespan for most large dogs. I think average is 10-12.