Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is one of the more common congenital heart defects in dogs. It is sometimes referred to as a 'hole in the heart'. The condition is often discovered in apparently healthy dogs by a vet during a routine examination (such as before vaccination).

If your vet identifies a heart murmur in your puppy it is essential to have further investigation to establish the cause of the murmur so that appropriate treatment can be given early.