Mordred was given to me by a vet (not my usual one), so I kept taking him to her. Last year, when Mordred was 9, I took him for a second opinion (to my usual vet) about his teeth. His teeth were fine, but the doctor detected a heart murmur, which he said was a grade 4 (out of 6). Now, since Mordred had been seen the previous week by the first vet, I can conclude only that he'd had the murmur for some time - but who knows how long, since she couldn't hear it? The (usual) vet did an x-ray and saw no sign of disease. I made an appointment with a cardiologist, and Mordred had an ultrasound; the cardiologist's findings: no sign of disease. His only recommendation was that Mordred be checked by his regular doctor every 6 months and return for another ultrasound in two years.
In your situation, I'd definitely be getting a second opinion; I think it was crude of the doctor to tell you that your Henry, at only 7, might be here only another 2 years. Sorry, but that's the way I feel. There's plenty of proof in this thread that a heart murmur is *not* a death sentence! You need to find out what's causing the murmur; true, there might be an underlying disease, but it might be something merely genetic. The cardiologist will be able to give you much more precise information - that's the route to go. Best of luck to you - I hope all the news is good!!
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Ummm, that was 2004. Evidently, Pepper didn't get the memo because she's never been sick a day in her life. 
Except for the time she broke her toe climbing a 8-foot fence............And the time she had most of her tail chopped off........ Yesseree, she sure is a delicate thing. 
Originally Posted by smokey the elder
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