What would indicate a murmur is considered Grade II?

A Grade II heart murmur is characterized by its audibility and consistency. Specifically, a Grade II murmur is described as a soft murmur that is consistently heard, meaning it can be detected reliably when the veterinarian auscultates over a specific area, such as one valve. This level of grading suggests that while the murmur is relatively quiet compared to louder murmurs, it is not faint or sporadic.

The other descriptions do not match the criteria for a Grade II murmur. A murmur that is heard intermittently would not provide the consistency required for this classification. Similarly, a murmurs that is clearly heard with slight difficulty indicates that it is more subdued and does not meet the clear detection standard of Grade II. A murmur that is clearly audible in multiple areas suggests a louder or more significant murmur, which would likely be classified as a higher grade due to its intensity and presence in multiple locations. Thus, the specific characteristic of a soft, consistently heard murmur over one valve aligns perfectly with the definition of a Grade II murmur.