Can a vet diagnose dog heart failure just by listening to its heart?

Question

can a vet diagnose congestive heart failure in a dog just by listening to the heart

Daniel Fonza, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! When we listen to a patient with a stethoscope to diagnose heart disease / heart failure, we are listening for multiple things. Does the dog have an audible heart murmur and if so, is there evidence of congestive heart failure (CHF). We listen for evidence of fluid in the lungs that would indicate heart failure. Just the presence of a heart murmur does not indicate heart failure. X-rays and echocardiography also aid in the diagnosis of CHF. So yes, CHF can be diagnosed with the stethoscope but some cases require further testing. BNP testing can also aid in the diagnosis. I hope this helps!

Can a vet diagnose dog heart failure just by listening to its heart?

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