And unfortunately SheetsSM is correct. The reason we do heart clearances in Goldens is there are heart issues in Goldens which can take them VERY young, less than 1 year old. So while I am hoping to put you at ease, it is EXTREMELY important if there is any hint of a heart problem to get the pup to a specialist ASAP.

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I am sorry you got that news from your vet but on the other hand, be glad that it was detected early.

What the other members have posted is correct, a regular vet is rarely qualified to grade a heart murmur. Having detected one, the absolute person to see is a board-certified veterinary cardiologist.

Please make an appointment as soon as you can with a board-certified veterinary cardiologist. AmbikaGR posted the link for ACVIM. I had a very similar situation when my Chance was a puppy and my regular vet pushed me to make the cardioligist appt asap due to high demand and sometimes a wait to get in. We waited 3 weeks for the appointment so do this as soon as you can.

A cardiologist at a veterinary teaching hospital would be great if you can get an appointment with one.

Don't be fooled by an energetic puppy without symptoms. Chance had no symptoms until he was 8 months old yet the cardiologist confirmed a grade 5/6 murmur.

Your breeder sounds awesome having already agreed to help with expenses by refunding your purchase price.

For now, don't get ahead of yourself with worry about the what-ifs. First get your vet's diagnosis confirmed by the cardiologist. Then go from there.

The good news is there are treatments available and diagnosing it early is important before the heart sustains permanent damage. Chance was diagnosed early and treated. He is 7 years old, has yearly a cardiologist checkup (ultrasound,etc) and lives a completely normal Golden life. Does agility and competes in Rally-O. No restrictions.

If you need more info later, I am happy to help. Keep us posted.

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..... have a Golden day

A murmur graded that high is definitely of a high concern to me and I'd go to the cardiologist as soon as possible. Dogs with murmurs that high can lead healthy lives, but it depends on the nature of the murmur. Puppies can outgrow murmurs, but with it being graded that high I have my doubts. Not to say it can't happen.

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Well as we all know, SAS is hereditary, not congenital, which means it is not necessarily present at birth. It can show up as a heart murmur until one year. A grade I-II murmur, a dog may out grow. Don't get the grading a murmur 3-5 as that is a huge leap. Not going to outgrow....

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Janice and The Celebration Gang -
"Samantha, George, Tiki, Emily, Mick and Basil" Gone but not forgotten, Sally(Windjammer's Ima Country Girl CDX CGC), Laney(Mandell Marlenes Celebration UD RA CGC), and Cookie(Starseeker's Kissmas Cookie CDX RE CGC).

Just wondering how the follow-up appt on the 29th went and if you ever went to the cardiologist...

I hope the appointment went well - any updates?

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-Valerie

I hope the owner took her dog to a cardiologist. If this were me, I would be making an appointment the day I found out.

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Caryn
Proud owner of: Miss Maddie Magoo CD NAP NJP RE CGC