Prospective multicenter study of murmur localization and stage-associated murmur grading in dogs with echocardiographically diagnosed cardiac diseases the LISTEN study.

Clinical Context

Peer-reviewed veterinary literature continues to shape everyday decision-making for canine patients, especially when new evidence clarifies diagnosis, treatment selection, monitoring, or clinical outcomes.

What the Study Evaluated

A study published in Frontiers in veterinary science in 2026 evaluated prospective multicenter study of murmur localization and stage-associated murmur grading in dogs with echocardiographically diagnosed cardiac diseases: the LISTEN study..

Key Findings

Cardiac auscultation remains fundamental in dogs with suspected cardiac disease, but large prospective datasets describing clinician-recorded murmur localization and intensity across echocardiographic diagnoses are limited. This study aimed to characterize point of maximal intensity (PMI) patterns in dogs with echocardiographically diagnosed cardiac abnormalities and to evaluate the association between murmur grade and disease stage in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). This prospective international multicenter observational study included 6,996 client-owned dogs examined by 50...

Why It Matters for Veterinary Professionals

For veterinary professionals, the practical value of this work lies in how the findings may support more structured clinical assessment, clearer monitoring, and more informed decisions for canine patients.

Practical Interpretation

The results should be interpreted in the context of the study design, population, inclusion criteria, and clinical setting. Application in practice should consider patient-specific risk factors, available diagnostics, local standards of care, and clinician judgment.

Clinical Takeaway

Overall, the study adds useful evidence for clinicians seeking to align daily practice with current veterinary research while maintaining a balanced, case-by-case approach.

• Read the full article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42948621/