This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Cardiovascular, Blood, and Immune System » Heart Disease »
  Discussion on Heart valves not closing
Author Message

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 9, 2002 - 9:06 pm:

I'm trying to find out if there have been any developments in treating horses whose heart valves are not closing. This horse is a two month old Warmblood colt. He had what appeared to be a heart murmur at birth. During a recent ultrasound, it was discovered that his heart valves are not closing. Apparently this is a very rare condition and ultimately fatal - he could be dead within the month. Does anyone have any ideas?

Posted on Thursday, Jan 10, 2002 - 9:34 am:

Tracey is your horse displaying any clinical signs of heart disease other than the murmur?
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jan 10, 2002 - 10:06 pm:

No, there are no other clinical signs. From the ultrasound, it appears that the heart murmur is a result of the valves not closing. He's quite a big and healthy looking foal who seems to feed well from mum and run around doing the usual foal things. From looking at him in the paddock you wouldn't know that there was a problem.

Posted on Friday, Jan 11, 2002 - 9:59 am:

Hmm...heart murmur in a foal with normal pulse rate and exercise tolerence.

Many types of heart murmurs not associated with disease are common in foals for a number of reasons. Most disappear by 3 months though some persist for a long time. We need this information to help you evaluate your foal:
1) A description of the murmur (loudness, where in the cardiac cycle it occurs, and how it changes when expresses).
2) Which heart valve is malfuntioning.
3) What type of ultrasound (2-dimensional versus Doppler) was done and
4) How experienced was the operator at looking at hearts of foals?
4) How the degree of malfunction as indicated by the ultrasound was measured?
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jan 13, 2002 - 9:57 pm:

Thanks DrO
The answers are:
1) it sounds like a washing machine going round and round rather than a beating sound
2) the two top valves are not closing. I think they're the ones that separate the two heart chambers
3) not sure what the name of the ultrasound is that was used
4) the ultrasound was conducted at the university and the operator appears to be experienced in foal hearts but I couldn't be too sure
5) not sure what you mean by this?
I really appreciate your help on this.
Cheers!

Posted on Monday, Jan 14, 2002 - 8:20 am:

I am afraid your description of the valves is confusing. Is it the valve that lies between the two sides of the heart (foramen ovale) or is it the AV valves and if so which ones. Neither of these are the valves that lie on top of the heart which seperate the heart from the major veins that come into it. I am afraid all this detail is neccesary for evaluation.
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 16, 2002 - 11:00 pm:

We've spoken to the vet again and he says that the horse has valve dysplasia in both sides of his heart. Apparently he's never a case like this, he's only ever seen it on one side of the heart.
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC