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There are two main forms of heart problems in
the horse;
murmurs (abnormal heart sounds) caused
by abnormal blood flow in the heart and arrhythmias
(disturbances in heart rhythm).
Dr Kirstie Pickles BVMS MSc PhD DipECEIM
PGCert(Couns Skills) CertEM(Int Med) MRCVS
HEART D I SEASE
Heart Disease
in the Horse
Many murmurs and arrhythmias are
of no clinical concern, however, it is
important that they are fully evaluated
to determine their cause and therefore
their clinical significance.
The most common clinical signs associated
with heart disease are weight loss, exercise
intolerance, swollen legs from fluid accumulation
(oedema) and poor growth (in youngsters).
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EQUINE MATTERS
It is important to distinguish between
functional flow murmurs, which are
common and of no clinical significance,
and pathological murmurs caused by heart
disease. Evaluation using a stethoscope
as well as a full physical examination is
essential, with particular reference to the
heart. The murmur will be graded
according to its loudness, when it occurs in
the heart cycle, and where it can be heard
loudest. Other signs of heart disease will
be evaluated including listening for
arrhythmias and abnormal lung sounds,
feeling the arterial pulse, looking for
distension or pulsation of the jugular vein
in the neck, and fluid accumulation in
the abdomen and chest cavities.
Sometimes further diagnostics such as
blood tests are necessary as well.
If a pathological murmur is suspected,
an ultrasound scan of the heart
(echocardiogram) will be advised (figure 1).
This can identify heart valve abnormalities
such as leaky valves (valvular regurgitation),
birth defects such as holes in the heart and
abnormal heart muscle function. Specialised
ultrasound functions can document the size
and speed of the abnormal blood flow in
the heart. An electrocardiogram (ECG) of
heart rhythm will usually also be performed
at the same time.
Cardiac Murmurs:
Evaluation of a Heart Murmur
Figure 1:
An ultrasound scan of the heart
(echocardiogram)
Veterinary Surgeon
Kirstie Pickles
XLEquine Practice
Scarsdale Veterinary
Group