Has anyone ever had a goat with a heart murmur?
I just had our vet out yesterday to do our yearly CAE-J-CL testing, and had the vet check the lungs of one of our yearling does, "Gumdrop" ...who has had an on/off cough through the winter (but has always acted normal, no fever, no runny nose/eyes). I really thought it was lungworm, and so that's what I treated her for, and she did seem to cough less after I wormed her. She hasn't had the cough(like she had in the winter), but now only coughs when she's been racing around or playing really rough with her herdmate, another yearling doe. -------So, anyhow, I had the vet listen to her lungs, and she said that she heard a heart murmur ( a hole in her heart)!!! :-( I am SO sad and disapointed, because she is my favorite goat out of our whole herd (I mean her personality, color, conformation--everything!!!), and she was also the most expensive...I paid A LOT for her nice bloodlines.
The vet said that a heart murmur isn't genetic, and she could still be used for breeding....she also suggested bringing her into the clinic to do an X-RAY, to see if her heart is enlarged. I have no idea what that would cost, but feel that I should have it done, especially if I am going to breed her. The vet said "the sooner I breed her, the better", because as she ages, it will just worsen. The vet said that her weight & overall health is great, which means it just may be a tiny hole in her heart. She could tell I was close to tears, and starting to freak out...and re-assured me that it wasn't anything to worry about. (But of course, I am!!!!)
I am also wondering if I should contact the breeder, and let her know.
Has anyone ever dealt with this kind of issue? Any advice would be appreciated.
Replies
I'd get a second opinion. Years ago, before moving to the farm, I bought a dog, and when I took it to my vet, he said she had a heart murmur. I contacted the breeder who had me bring the dog in to a second vet who said the dog was fine. Simply listening is very subjective. If you have a university vet hospital near you, that would be a good option. I don't think you should make any decisions based upon the info you have right now.
I had a doe in for a chest x-ray to look for an obstruction/pneumonia a couple of years ago. It was about $70. Best wishes to you. :)
I just found this article on congenital heart defects in a pygmy goat: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236237236_Congenital_cardi...
and also this article on heart murmurs (which isn't specific to goats):http://www.uvma.org/cardiac.html
According to this, it IS genetic (my vet said it wasn't), and that breeding an goat w/congenital heart problems is NOT advised (my vet said I could still breed her). So, now I don't know WHAT to do!?!?