Health
Is a murmur the same as a diagnosis?
No — it's a physical exam finding that indicates something worth investigating further, not a diagnosis on its own.
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Akita Heart Murmurs Explained: Grading and Next Steps
Quick answer
Is a murmur the same as a diagnosis?
No — it's a physical exam finding that indicates something worth investigating further, not a diagnosis on its own.
Hearing the word 'murmur' at a vet visit can be alarming, but a murmur itself is just a sound — an abnormal blood flow pattern the vet can hear, not yet a diagnosis of what's actually causing it.
Owners who've just been told their Akita has a new murmur, at any age, are the ones trying to figure out what happens next and how worried to be.
Important reminder
This guide is not medical advice. If your dog shows pain, sudden behavior change, or worsening symptoms, consult a licensed veterinarian.
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Check this first
When a Murmur Finding Needs Urgent Follow-Up
A newly found murmur combined with collapse, fainting, pale or bluish gums, or labored breathing at rest is a signal to seek emergency care immediately rather than waiting for a scheduled cardiology referral — this combination suggests the murmur reflects a condition already causing functional problems.
A murmur found incidentally at a routine exam, with no other symptoms present, is not an emergency. It's appropriate to schedule a cardiology referral for an echocardiogram within a reasonable timeframe, typically within a few weeks, to determine the underlying cause.
The grade of the murmur itself can help gauge urgency to some degree — very loud murmurs (grade 4 and above) are generally followed up more promptly than soft, low-grade murmurs, though any grade benefits from at least an initial cardiology consultation.
If any of these apply, call your vet or an emergency clinic now. The rest of this page is for the cases that are not an emergency.
What this problem looks like
A heart murmur is a physical exam finding — an abnormal sound from turbulent blood flow — rather than a diagnosis on its own. Understanding how murmurs are graded and what follow-up testing actually shows helps owners move past the initial alarm of hearing the word and toward a clear, informed next step.
Common triggers
- Underlying structural heart changes, congenital or age-related
- Innocent flow murmurs, particularly in puppies
- Valve degeneration or heart muscle disease in older dogs
- Anemia or other non-cardiac conditions that can occasionally cause a murmur
- Normal individual variation in heart sounds in some cases
Murmurs are one of the more frequently encountered incidental findings at routine veterinary exams across all dog breeds and ages, which is why understanding the grading system and appropriate follow-up matters for any dog owner, the Akita included.
Why this happens
Breed factors
There's no unique Akita-specific murmur pattern separate from what's seen in large breeds generally — the relevant breed factor is simply that large-breed dogs carry a documented risk for both congenital defects and later heart muscle disease, both of which can present as a murmur at different life stages.
Environment factors
Environment doesn't cause a murmur directly, but factors like obesity or anemia from other causes can occasionally contribute to or unmask a murmur, and how promptly a new murmur is followed up on with proper testing significantly affects how early any underlying condition is caught.
What you can do at home (once it is not an emergency)
When to talk to your vet
Seek emergency care immediately if a murmur is accompanied by collapse, fainting, pale or bluish gums, or labored breathing at rest. Schedule a cardiology referral within a few weeks for any newly found murmur without those symptoms.
At home, alongside your vet's plan
- Ask your vet for the specific grade of any murmur found, as a documented baseline.
- Follow up with a cardiology referral for an echocardiogram within a reasonable timeframe after a new finding.
- Keep a written record of any murmur grade and cardiology findings to share with future veterinarians.
- Avoid making activity changes based on a murmur alone before further testing clarifies the underlying cause.
- Recheck periodically as recommended, since a murmur's grade or underlying cause can change over time.
Mistakes owners make after a new murmur finding
A murmur diagnosis triggers a range of reactions, and some responses are more useful than others.
- Assuming a murmur automatically means serious heart disease: murmurs range from entirely innocent to significant, and the grade and further testing determine which it actually is.
- Assuming a soft murmur can be ignored indefinitely: even a low-grade murmur deserves a documented baseline and periodic monitoring, since grade alone doesn't fully predict underlying severity.
- Skipping an echocardiogram because 'the vet said it's probably nothing': a stethoscope grade is a helpful starting estimate, but only an echocardiogram shows the actual structural cause.
- Panicking and restricting all activity immediately after a murmur is found: activity changes should be based on your vet or cardiologist's specific findings and recommendations, not an assumption made before any further testing.
- Not asking what grade the murmur is: knowing the specific grade (on the standard 1 through 6 scale) gives you and your vet a concrete baseline to track over time.
- Forgetting to mention the murmur to a new vet at a later visit: keeping a clear record and passing it along ensures continuity of monitoring, especially if you switch veterinary practices.
More Akita health & behavior issues
- Akita Congenital Heart Conditions: What to Know
- Akita Heart Disease in Senior Years: A Progression Guide
- Akita Liver Shunts: Usually Acquired, Not Congenital
- Akita Pancreatitis: Signs, Triggers & Treatment
- Akita Cherry Eye: Signs, Causes & Surgical Fix
- Akita Eye Disorders: A Complete Overview
- Akita Hip Dysplasia: Signs, Causes & Treatment Costs
- Akita Hypothyroidism: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Daily Management
- Akita Immune-Mediated Thyroiditis: A Documented Autoimmune Condition
- Akita Luxating Patellas: Signs, Causes & Treatment
- Akita Obesity: Weight Management for a Large Breed
- Akita Patellar Luxation: Grading, Surgery & Outlook
- Akita Separation Anxiety: A Nuanced, Individual Picture
- Akita Skin Allergies: Triggers, Signs & Management
- Akita Skin Infections: Causes, Signs & Treatment
Heart Murmurs in other breeds
- Jack Russell Terrier Heart Murmurs: Signs & Treatment
- Labradoodle Heart Murmurs: Signs, Lifespan & Treatment
- Maltese Heart Murmurs: Signs, Lifespan & Treatment
- Miniature Schnauzer Heart Murmurs: Signs & Treatment
- Poodle Heart Murmurs: Signs, Lifespan & Treatment
- Rottweiler Heart Murmurs: Signs, Lifespan & Treatment
- Standard Schnauzer Heart Murmurs: Signs & Treatment
- Yorkshire Terrier Heart Murmurs: Signs, Lifespan & Treatment
- Australian Shepherd Heart Murmurs: What the Sound Actually Means
- Bernese Mountain Dog Heart Murmurs: Grades and Next Steps
See all Akita health problems, which breeds are prone to heart murmurs, or the full Akita breed guide for temperament, exercise needs and ownership costs.
What to expect, and how you know it is working
Getting from an initial murmur finding to a full echocardiogram diagnosis typically takes a few weeks, depending on cardiology appointment availability. Ongoing monitoring frequency afterward depends on what the echocardiogram reveals.
Success is moving from an alarming but vague finding to a clear, specific understanding of what's actually happening with your dog's heart, with an appropriate monitoring or treatment plan in place based on real diagnostic information.
Gustavo's Grade 2 Finding
At a routine checkup, Gustavo's vet in Tampa found a new grade 2 murmur in his six-year-old Akita, Titan. Gustavo initially worried this meant serious heart disease, but his vet explained the grading scale and recommended a cardiology referral to find out more. The echocardiogram showed mild valve changes that weren't yet causing any functional problems. Titan's cardiologist recommended monitoring with a recheck echocardiogram in a year rather than starting medication immediately, and Gustavo now understands the grade and finding well enough to track any future changes with much less anxiety.
Key takeaway: Getting a specific murmur grade and following through with an echocardiogram turns a vague, alarming finding into a clear, manageable piece of information.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is a heart murmur?
It's an abnormal sound caused by turbulent blood flow through the heart or major vessels, heard through a stethoscope. It's a physical exam finding that indicates something is affecting blood flow, not a specific diagnosis on its own.
How are murmurs graded?
Vets use a standard 1 through 6 scale, with grade 1 being very soft and difficult to hear, and grade 6 being loud enough to feel as a vibration through the chest wall. Higher grades generally correlate with more significant underlying findings, though not perfectly.
Does every murmur need an echocardiogram?
It's the most reliable way to determine the actual cause and severity, and is generally recommended for any newly found murmur, particularly in an adult or senior dog where age-related heart disease is more likely.
Can a murmur be innocent and not indicate disease?
Yes, particularly in puppies, where some murmurs resolve on their own by around six months of age without indicating any structural problem. In adult dogs, a new murmur is less often innocent and more often reflects an underlying finding worth investigating.
What does the follow-up cardiology visit involve?
A veterinary cardiologist performs a full echocardiogram, measuring heart chamber size, wall thickness, and blood flow patterns in detail, which identifies the specific underlying cause of the murmur.
How much does the full workup cost?
An echocardiogram with a cardiologist typically runs $300 to $600, a worthwhile cost for a clear, actionable diagnosis rather than ongoing uncertainty.
What happens if the echocardiogram is normal despite the murmur?
Some dogs have murmurs from flow characteristics that don't reflect significant structural disease; in these cases, periodic monitoring rather than active treatment is often the appropriate plan.
Quick answers
View more answersHealth
How are murmurs graded?
On a standard 1 through 6 scale, from very soft to loud enough to feel through the chest wall.
Health
Should every murmur get an echocardiogram?
It's generally recommended, especially for a new murmur in an adult or senior dog.
Costs
How much does a full cardiac workup cost?
An echocardiogram with a cardiologist typically runs $300 to $600.
Health
Can puppy murmurs be innocent?
Yes, some resolve on their own by around six months, though this can't be assumed without follow-up.
Related DogBreedCompass guides
- Akita cardiac disease screening guide – The broader cardiac screening framework a murmur finding fits into.
- Akita congenital heart conditions – Congenital defects that a puppy murmur can sometimes indicate.
- Akita dilated cardiomyopathy overview – The specific heart muscle disease often behind an adult-onset murmur.
- cost of owning an Akita – Owners budgeting for cardiology referral and diagnostic costs.
- Akita breed overview – Full breed profile for readers researching Akita cardiac health.
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