Heart disease is a fairly common occurrence in cats. Typically, a veterinarian first discovers heart disease in a cat in one of the following two ways:
hearing an unusual, abnormal sound (heart murmur, rapid or uneven beat) through a stethoscope during a regular medical examination;
Examine your cat after you first notice that she is panting or having difficulty breathing.
If heart disease manifests itself as difficulty breathing, then the cat’s owner thinks it has come on suddenly. After all, just now everything was fine with the cat, and suddenly you notice that she is breathing with difficulty and is even suffocating.
What seems “sudden” to cat owners actually accumulated over time, long and gradually, to the point where the problem became noticeable. That's why in Chapter 11 we've given you the information you need on how to determine your cat's heart rate and breathing rate, so you can know what's normal and what's not before you're faced with a situation where you need to immediate help veterinarian
Other signs of heart disease that you may notice include:
Weight change. Loss or gain of more than 200-500 g in a couple of weeks.
Cough. Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish a cat's cough from when she is vomiting or choking on something. But if any of these manifestations happen to your cat quite often, consult your veterinarian.
Weakness or paralysis of the paws(usually the rear(s)). Some cats with heart disease develop blood clots (thrombi) in the heart, which then suddenly move out of the heart and block the arteries supplying blood to the body. Most often this affects hind legs, although any part of the body can be affected, including the front legs, kidneys, brain, etc.
Feeling unwell. The last sign falls into the category that Paul calls "the cat that's not all right."
Congenital heart disease in cats is not as common as in dogs, but is seen from time to time. If a kitten has a heart murmur, it should be shown to a specialist. In many cats with congenital heart disease, these problems do not become apparent until the cat is several years old.
If you have discovered or suspect that your cat has heart disease, the most important thing is to stabilize any life-threatening situation. Your veterinarian may suggest that you remove fluid in or around the lungs using medication or a syringe and needle.
If the situation is not that critical, but you suspect heart disease - or if the cat was having difficulty breathing and is now doing better - then the veterinarian will still want to know what the cause of the problem is. To make a diagnosis in this case, it is usually necessary to do x-ray chest and echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). A routine electrocardiogram (ECG) may also be helpful.
If you are on a budget, then in this situation it is most useful to spend money on an echocardiogram and to consult an experienced veterinarian or specialist who can “read” the resulting echocardiogram.
After it is delivered correct diagnosis, your veterinarian will develop an optimal treatment plan that includes medications, diet, and monitoring to give your pet the best chance of a long and healthy life. healthy life. But, of course, there can be no 100% guarantee; If your cat has any kind of heart disease, then you should know that he can die suddenly at any moment. Therefore, no matter how difficult it may be psychologically to come to terms with this fact, you must be prepared for it.
But don't despair! Cardiology is a field of veterinary medicine in which significant progress has been made over the past 20 years. In former times, tens of thousands of cats died from heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy. But thanks to scientific advances, these cats can now be saved in many cases. Science does not stand still and continues to develop, so there is hope that other cat diseases will be overcome, and their lives will become healthier and happier.
A distinctive feature of cats is their unprecedented vitality, and due to this feature, in some ancient religions animals were assigned magical abilities, and it was also believed that the mysterious furry beauties were associated with the other world.
But there are diseases that can turn the cat’s notorious “nine lives” into one, and even then not a very long one. One such disease is cardiomyopathy in cats.
This is a disease characterized by pathological changes in the ventricles of the heart and interventricular septa. The disease belongs to the category of dangerous ailments that can significantly shorten the life of an animal. According to statistics, such problems are more common in males than in females.
The definition of "cardiomyopathy" includes four categories of diseases affecting the heart muscle of an animal.
Cardiomyopathy is a pathology affecting a cat's heart.
The main types of ailments include:
Heart disease has a significant impact on the well-being, behavior and life expectancy of cats. For this reason, it is important to recognize the disease in a timely manner and take the necessary measures; inaction can lead to rapid death pet.
What are the reasons for the development hypertrophic cardiomyopathy y, or manifestations of other types of this disease?
The factor that provokes the development of the disease includes heredity.
The following provoking factors are distinguished:
Also at risk for heart problems are animals that are obese and lead a sedentary lifestyle.
The danger of cardiomyopathy is that the animal can for a long time look completely healthy and show no signs of illness. In such cases, only an experienced veterinarian can determine that a cat has heart problems when examining the pet.
Symptoms indicating the presence of a disease of this kind are:
As mentioned above, there are situations when such a violation does not affect the animal’s behavior in any way. But If the cat has become inactive and apathetic, you should immediately contact a veterinarian. It is possible that a specialist will detect signs of heart disease.
If your cat suddenly begins to move less and appears apathetic, she should be seen by a doctor.
If the presence of cardiomyopathy is suspected, the following diagnostic measures are carried out:
After necessary research and diagnosis by a specialist, treatment is prescribed.
For cardiomyopathy it is carried out drug treatment. The goal of therapy is to normalize cardiac output, reduce risk, and reduce congestion. In addition, it is necessary to prevent the formation of blood clots and monitor heart function.
For cardiomyopathy, the veterinarian prescribes the drug Diltiazem.
In order to cope with the problem and improve general condition animal, the following drugs are used:
Since the use of diuretics can lead to dehydration, the animal needs additional infusions of 5% glucose solution at the rate of 15 ml per 1 kg of weight. In addition, it will be necessary to reduce stressful situations for the animal, as they can provoke sudden cardiac arrest and carry out regular examinations by a veterinarian.
To increase the effectiveness of the treatment, it is necessary to feed the cat in accordance with a special diet.
Principle proper nutrition consists of eliminating table salt from the animal’s diet. As you know, this supplement retains fluid in the body, which can lead to the development of edema, which is extremely undesirable for heart disease.
In addition, it is important that the following substances are present in sufficient quantities in the cat’s diet:
To compensate for the lack of these elements, it is necessary to purchase special food additives for cats. Today, many manufacturers produce vitamins for animals suffering from cardiovascular pathologies, and choosing a suitable complex will not be difficult.
When detecting signs of cardiomyopathy in a pet, pet owners often ask the question: how long do cats with this pathology live?
The prognosis for feline cardiomyopathy is ambiguous.
With such diseases, the prognosis is very ambiguous and everything depends on the individual characteristics of the animal’s body, as well as the nature of the disorder.
As a rule, what the outcome of the disease will be is noticeable already in the first days after the start of treatment. If after 2-3 days there are visible improvements in the animal’s condition, one can hope for a favorable outcome of the disease. However, this is only possible if all the recommendations of the attending physician are followed and the animal is provided with rest.
In situations where, despite the therapy, the animal’s health does not improve, and deterioration is also noticeable, a quick death is quite likely.
With heart problems, some animals live calmly until old age, but there are cases when, despite the efforts of the owners and the efforts of doctors, the animal dies at the age of 1 to 2 years.
Heart disease in animals can be prevented if preventive measures are followed.
The range of events includes:
In addition, it is important to purchase animals from trusted breeders with a good reputation. Otherwise, there is a risk of getting a pet that is predisposed to various diseases.
In the video, a veterinarian talks about the disease feline cardiomyopathy.
Heart failure is defined as the inability of the heart to pump needed by the body blood volume. This disease occurs as a result of past infectious diseases. Heart failure is the most common cause of sudden death in pets. It affects not only dogs, but also cats.
Types of heart failure:
As a result acute form, the cat instantly develops, symptoms of which may include blood discharge from the mouth and nose, as well as shortness of breath.
Symptoms of heart disease in cats are not always visible, but she cannot complain about her health. Therefore, the health of the pet is entirely in the hands of the owner. He must monitor his pet and, upon discovering the first symptoms of the disease, should seek advice from a veterinarian.
A cat's panting with a protruding tongue is a sign of heart disease.
In cats, coughing is not a cardiac symptom.
The onset of an attack requires quick and correct actions the owner, as, sometimes, it can be fatal.
Since cats generally lead a quiet lifestyle and are couch potatoes, not all owners can distinguish a healthy animal from a sick one. She can report any changes in her well-being by changing her behavior, that is, if the cat used to behave independently of the owner, but now does not leave his side, then this indicates that something is bothering her.
Some people think that this is a sign of health. This is wrong. Purring, abruptly replaced by aggression or growling, indicates that she is in pain.
A healthy animal has:
Sick animal:
Cats should be periodically screened for heartworms to help prevent heart disease. If a taurine deficiency is noticed in a timely manner, it must be introduced into the cat’s food, due to which the vital activity of the heart muscle is restored.
Diagnosis must be carried out by a qualified veterinary cardiologist in order to prescribe correct treatment. Typically it includes:
If a cat has been diagnosed with heart failure, then it should be excluded from planning for breeding, since the hereditary factor plays an important role.
Treatment of cats for this disease depends on the severity of the disease. Sometimes it is carried out exclusively under conditions of daily stay in veterinary clinic. Cats do not undergo heart surgery. During illness, they are prescribed only drug treatment. The earlier they are diagnosed with heart failure, the better their chances of survival. For recovery you need:
Heart failure in an animal requires careful care:
Cats suffering from heart failure need preventative care to keep them active. We need to try to “stir up” animals that lead a “sofa” lifestyle. Obese cats are at risk for heart disease. You need to ensure your pet is eating properly. Annual examination from the veterinarian will protect him from heart disease.
Also susceptible to heart disease are Sphynx cats, British cats, Persians, Scottish cats, Maine Coons. This does not mean that all cats of these breeds, sooner or later, have heart problems. This statement means that representatives of these breeds develop heart disease at an earlier age.
Heart failure in neutered cats is quite common because these animals are very lazy. They lead a sedentary lifestyle and are obese.
It is necessary to pay increased attention, as they are more susceptible to heart ailments.
A diagnosis of heart failure in cats is not a death sentence. The main thing is to notice the first symptoms of the disease in time, carry out regular examination and treatment. Monitor your pet's diet. With proper care and care, a cat can delight its owner with affection and beauty for a long time.
Heart disease is one of the common reasons premature and sudden death pets. Unfortunately, many heart problems can only be solved surgically, and such operations are carried out in a few clinics in Russia. Therefore, every owner should know the symptoms of heart disease in cats: the earlier malfunctions in the functioning of this organ are detected, the higher the chance of success of conservative treatment.
The cat's heart is no fundamentally different from the human heart and performs the same functions. There is only one feature - it is smaller in relation to body weight (≈ 0.7% of the total weight). By dispersing blood and lymph through the vessels, the heart ensures the delivery of oxygen and useful substances into every cell. Impaired blood circulation impairs the functioning of all organs and systems, and therefore heart disease in cats directly affects the quality and length of life.
Not all, but many heart problems in cats are preventable. High-quality nutrition, walks, daily games have a beneficial effect on work cardiovascular system. It is extremely important to get vaccinations on time, as some heart diseases in cats develop after infections. Avoid inflammatory processes in the heart as a result of the vital activity of helminths is possible if you regularly give your pet an anti-worm remedy.
Unfortunately, symptoms of heart disease in cats appear as early as late stages. At the onset of the disease, owners rarely notice changes in the pet’s condition, since cats are known sleepyheads, and interruptions in heart function are clearly noticeable after physical exertion. Therefore, it is important to visit the veterinarian once a year and donate blood for biochemistry. If possible, an ultrasound examination of the cat’s heart should be performed annually, which is especially important if the pet has reached an advanced age.
