Sample Heart Sounds You Can Listen To

Estimated reading time: 7 minute

Madhero88, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

While the heart rates of cats and dogs differ from those of humans, the characteristics of the sounds you hear are largely similar. Therefore, listening to live heart sounds and recognizing their characteristics increases your diagnostic accuracy during auscultation. Furthermore, these human recordings can guide you in understanding heart valve movements and murmur types.

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Normal Heart Sounds

Normal heart sounds clearly reflect the heart's regular contraction and relaxation cycle. Identifying S1 and S2 sounds, in particular, is the first step in basic auscultation skills. Furthermore, understanding the normal rhythm makes it easier to detect abnormalities.

Normal Heart SoundsTo listen to the audio sample of , press the listen button in the audio sample below.

Normal Heart Sounds For more detailed information about Normal Heart Sounds You can read the article.

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Innocent or Functional Murmur

An innocent murmur is a sound generally considered harmless and produced by gentle turbulence in blood flow. This murmur can occur even when there is no obvious lesion on the heart valves. However, it is important to distinguish it from pathological murmurs through a detailed examination.

Innocent or Functional MurmurTo listen to the audio sample of , press the listen button in the audio sample below.

Innocent or Functional Murmur For more detailed information about Innocent or Functional Murmur You can read the article.

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Innocent Murmur and S3

An innocent murmur refers to subtle fluctuations in sound that can be heard even when there's no significant heart valve problem. When accompanied by an S3 sound, this allows you to listen to the ventricular filling process during diastole, allowing you to assess a broader portion of the cardiac cycle.

Innocent Murmur and S3To listen to the audio sample of , press the listen button in the audio sample below.

Innocent Murmur and S3 For more detailed information about Innocent Murmur and S3 You can read the article.

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Mitral Valve Stenosis

Mitral valve stenosis is a narrowing of blood flow between the left atrium and left ventricle. This narrowing results in turbulent flow and a low-pitched murmur. It also strains the heart's overall functioning, and congestive symptoms may occur later in life.

Mitral Valve StenosisTo listen to the audio sample of , press the listen button on the audio sample below.

Mitral Valve Stenosis For more detailed information about Mitral Valve Stenosis You can read the article.

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Aortic Stenosis and Aortic Valve Insufficiency

Aortic stenosis restricts blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta, resulting in a high pressure gradient and a harsh murmur. However, if aortic valve insufficiency is present, a regurgitant murmur is heard during diastole because the valve cannot close. Thus, two distinct sounds can be produced during systole and diastole, complicating the auscultatory examination.

Aortic Stenosis and Aortic Valve InsufficiencyTo listen to the audio sample of , press the listen button in the audio sample below.

Aortic Stenosis and Aortic Valve Insufficiency For more detailed information about Aortic Stenosis and Aortic Valve Insufficiency You can read the article.

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Bicuspid Aortic Valve

A bicuspid aortic valve is a valve structure composed of two leaflets at birth. This anomaly can lead to additional problems such as stenosis or insufficiency over time. Furthermore, monitoring and early intervention are crucial because the heart's workload can increase.

Bicuspid Aortic ValveTo listen to the audio sample of , press the listen button on the audio sample below.

Bicuspid Aortic Valve For more detailed information about Bicuspid Aortic Valve You can read the article.

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Aortic Stenosis and Aortic Valve Insufficiency with Bicuspid Aortic Valve

A bicuspid aortic valve can complicate the anomaly, creating both stenosis and insufficiency simultaneously. Therefore, you are more likely to hear distinct murmurs in systole and diastole. This combination provides a good example to hone your auscultatory skills.

Aortic Stenosis and Aortic Valve Insufficiency with Bicuspid Aortic ValveTo listen to the audio sample of , press the listen button in the audio sample below.

Aortic Stenosis and Aortic Valve Insufficiency with Bicuspid Aortic Valve For more detailed information about Aortic Stenosis and Aortic Valve Insufficiency with Bicuspid Aortic Valve You can read the article.

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Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

Ventricular septal defect is characterized by abnormal flow arising from a gap in the septum between the ventricles. This gap causes oxygenated and deoxygenated blood to mix. It also creates a characteristically loud murmur, easily recognized by the patient.

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)To listen to the audio sample of , press the listen button in the audio sample below.

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) For more detailed information about Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) You can read the article.

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Mitral Valve Insufficiency and Mitral Valve Prolapse

Mitral valve insufficiency is a backflow murmur that occurs when the valve leaflets fail to close completely. When prolapse occurs, the relaxation or stretching of the valve leaflets becomes more pronounced. Consequently, the typical murmur is clearly audible on auscultation during the systolic phase.

Mitral Valve Insufficiency and Mitral Valve ProlapseTo listen to the audio sample of , press the listen button on the audio sample below.

Mitral Valve Insufficiency and Mitral Valve Prolapse For more detailed information about Mitral Valve Insufficiency and Mitral Valve Prolapse You can read the article.

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Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occurs when a connection that should close after birth remains open. This condition is felt as a constant, mechanical-like murmur. It also increases the workload on the heart and circulatory system.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)To listen to the audio sample of , press the listen button in the audio sample below.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) For more detailed information about Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) You can read the article.

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Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)

Atrial septal defect is associated with the presence of a hole between the atria. The passage of blood between the right and left atria increases cardiac workload and produces characteristic sounds. Additional murmurs may also be heard if the valves or other structures are affected.

Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)To listen to the audio sample of , press the listen button in the audio sample below.

Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) For more detailed information about Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) You can read the article.

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Pulmonary Stenosis

Pulmonary stenosis is a narrowing of the artery that carries blood from the right ventricle to the lungs. This narrowing obstructs blood flow, causing a systolic murmur. Furthermore, pressure increases in the right heart chambers, and congestive symptoms may develop in later stages.

Pulmonary StenosisTo listen to the audio sample of , press the listen button in the audio sample below.

Pulmonary Stenosis For more detailed information about Pulmonary Stenosis You can read the article.

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To download the heart sounds you listen to to your device and to obtain more technical information about auscultation, although it is a human resource, teachingheartauscultation.com You can use the website. This resource is very useful for learning anatomical similarities, as it provides an in-depth examination of human heart sounds. This increases your chances of making a faster and more accurate diagnosis in clinical cases in cats or dogs.

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Other Articles You May Be Interested In

• Heart Sounds and Evaluation
• Auscultation and its importance
• Abnormal Heart Sounds and Murmurs
• Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)
• Irish Terriers

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