dvm360 podcast spotlights the clinical and family journey of MMVD

Version 1

dvm360’s Vet Blast Podcast used the case of “Vinnie,” a 7-year-old Chihuahua, to walk listeners through the course of myxomatous mitral valve disease, or MMVD, from an incidental murmur to long-term monitoring and, eventually, more difficult care decisions. In the March 19, 2026, sponsored episode, host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, spoke with cardiologist Whit Church, DVM, DACVIM, about how MMVD often begins in small-breed dogs without symptoms, and how a murmur found in primary care can trigger referral, echocardiography, staging, and ongoing follow-up. The episode frames MMVD as both a clinical progression and a family journey, with attention to communication and end-of-life planning alongside medical management. (dvm360.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the podcast reinforces a familiar but important point: early detection and accurate staging drive decision-making in MMVD. Current ACVIM consensus guidance defines Stage B2 disease using murmur intensity and evidence of cardiomegaly, and recommends starting pimobendan in dogs that meet those criteria to delay the onset of congestive heart failure. That makes primary care recognition, timely imaging, and clear conversations with the pet parent especially important in small-breed patients that may look clinically well at first presentation. (animalhealth.boehringer-ingelheim.com)

What to watch: Expect continued education efforts around earlier recognition of Stage B2 MMVD, referral thresholds, and how practices can better support pet parents through monitoring, treatment changes, and end-of-life decisions. (dvm360.com)