Valvular Heart Disease / Valve Insufficiency
In valvular heart disease, one or more heart valves no longer close fully, so blood flows back (insufficiency) and a heart murmur becomes audible. The most common form is degenerative thickening of the mitral or aortic valve, often an incidental finding on auscultation; many horses remain able to work for years, while advanced cases can limit performance.
Veterinary care required
This condition belongs in veterinary diagnosis and treatment. Compounds are at most supportive.
Priority · vet & management
A newly detected heart murmur needs veterinary assessment, ideally cardiologically by echocardiography (severity, affected valve, heart function) and ECG to check for accompanying arrhythmias. The focus is on monitoring, exercise management adapted to the findings and the veterinary assessment of ridden suitability; complementary feeds play no causal role on the heart.
Possible causes
- · age-related degenerative valve changes
- · consequence of a past endocarditis (valve scarring)
- · congenital valve defects (more rarely)
- · volume load and valve stretching at high performance discussed
Supportive compounds · supplementary feed, not medication
Prevention
A complete healing of infections with possible cardiac involvement and regular veterinary auscultation, especially in older or competing horses, help to detect valve changes early.
Equiterna's take
Equiterna classifies the heart murmur as a finding to be taken seriously but often well controllable — decisive are echocardiographic follow-up and the veterinary assessment of fitness for work, not feed additives.
Usage note
This content is for information and education. It does not replace veterinary diagnosis or treatment. If your horse shows signs of illness, consult a veterinarian.
Equiterna is an intermediary platform for equine knowledge, marketplace and tools — not a veterinary-medicines dealer, veterinary practice or pharmacy. Compound information is study-attributed and free of healing claims. Legal framework: Regulation (EU) 2019/6 / TAMG (DE/AT), Feed Regulation (EC) 767/2009, FEI Prohibited Substances List, HWG.