Angela Lutz | Mar 29th 2019 An enlarged heart in cats can be a sign of heart disease. Therefore, progression of the disease may result in: This disease can affect cats of any breed, age, or gender – occurring more frequently in cats that are middle-aged or older. Diagnosing heart disease is not always easy in cats. Only a minority of cats develop severe HCM and signs of heart disease. The two most common types of congenital heart disease are malformations of a valve or a septal defect in the wall that divides the right and left sides of the heart. Like they say, it is better to be safe than sorry! While it's too late to prevent HCM in these individuals, early diagnosis is the key to keeping a cat's heart healthy longer. These include hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), hypertension (high blood pressure) and anemia. Another blood test, called NT-ProBNP has recently been purported to aid in the early diagnosis of heart disease in dogs and cats. The prognosis for cats with advanced heart disease that have succumbed to congestive heart failure or thromboembolism is highly variable, with some cats surviving only days or weeks and others responding well to medications and living for more than a year or two. Heart disease is a serious condition that is diagnosed in approximately 10 percent of all cats. It’s difficult to be any more specific than that. These complications can include: The signs of HCM in cats are typically mild to absent, at least at the outset. Your veterinarian or a veterinary geneticist are the best resources for more information. Then, you will be transferred to a human. A genetic test is now available for screening for this defective gene in these two breeds alone. These often include echocardiography carried out by an experienced cardiologist. It can be caused by a failure of the left side, right side, or both sides of the heart. The prognosis is directly related to the severity of the disease and its complications, if present. Survival rates for cats with thromboembolic disease secondary to HCM are poor. In … Certain types of bacterial and viral infections are alsothought to be connected with the disease. Related Links: Your veterinarian will perform blood work and a blood pressure measurement to rule out these problems and treat them as necessary. If the heart stops pumping efficiently, the body risks becoming oxygen-depleted. Many, even most, cats with HCM live their lives with clinically silent disease. Changes in the heart shape make heart valves leaky (causing audible heart murmurs, if present) and further decrease the heart's pumping power. Veterinarian-written / veterinarian-approved articles for your cat. An echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound of the heart, is the best means of diagnosing HCM in cats. Never give your cat aspirin or any other medication unless under strict instructions from your veterinarian. Following diagnosis to determine the cause, a number of tests need to be carried out. Cats are notoriously good at taking it easy on themselves, and they hide it when they don't feel well. And unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that the treatment will be 100% effective. Common causes cover: If your cat shows any signs of congestive heart failure your vet will need to carry out extensive diagnostic tests to be able to monitor the response of medication doses. Also, how long can a cat live with congestive heart failure? You should keep your cat exercising in moderation to keep its blood pressure regulated whilst strengthening the heart. With heart disease in cats, life expectancy can be affected, so if you notice any type of symptom that you believe may be related to heart disease (no matter your cat's age), it is key to take your kitty to the veterinarian as soon as possible. While useful in monitoring cats diagnosed with severe HCM, most experts believe it to be an unreliable screening test for early to moderate disease. Additionally, the heart has a A cat with heart disease might have a heart murmur or rhythm problem that your veterinarian would hear. A stressful event (non-cardiac illness, anesthesia) or even a mild exertion (jumping to the windowsill) can be enough to tip the scale in the unlucky cases where more advanced disease is present. Not all cats with HCM have an audible heart murmur. How A Cat's Heart Works A cat's heart has four chambers. Less filling means a weaker pump. Some types of heart disease develop secondary to another disease. This means that tissues continue to receive the required oxygen and blood. Most feline heart disorders are acquired during the course of an animal’s life, but others are present at birth. These are commonly used and can work well, although they are not officially licensed for cats. Feline heart disease is either congenital (present at birth) or acquired in adulthood. Although treatments cannot reverse heart disease, your cat can live a relatively normal life. It provides a highly detailed, real-time view of the heart's structure and function. As fluid backs up into the lungs this results in congestion of the lung tissue. Usng the tapping technique gets rid of chest or abdomen fluid. Early treatment is aimed at helping the overly stiff ventricular wall muscles relax properly between heart beats and/or to slowing the heart beat to allow for better filling between contractions and for better blood flow to the heart muscle itself. This alters the structure and function of the heart in several ways. A cat with mild to moderate heart disease may enjoy an essentially normal life for a number of years. The outlook for cats diagnosed with HCM varies dramatically. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Death can often result from emboli or blood clots, and sudden and severe rhythm abnormalities. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cat that has been diagnosed with heart failure that was only diagnosed when the disease was quite advanced. An echocardiogram is gentle and non-invasive; however it usually requires referral to a veterinary specialist and can be costly. Your veterinarian may prescribe one of a handful of oral medications such as diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker, or atenolol, a beta blocker. Heart disease affects 15% of all cats and is difficult to detect. Conversely, not all murmurs indicate that HCM is present. However, the prognosis is much more guarded once the cat has more severe disease. Heart disease in cats is common and is a common cause of sudden unexpected death in cats. Most cats with mild disease will live a normal life, but in rare instances, they can die suddenly without warning. Most cats with congestive heart failure will need medications for life. As the heart disease increases in severity, however, these compensatory mechanisms become overwhelmed. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Early diagnosis of the disease truly makes a difference when it comes to prognosis. Consequently, when the heart struggles to deliver enough blood, fluid can back up into the lungs. The life expectancy depends on the cause of the murmur: cats with benign or innocent murmurs will have a normal life span, while cats with heart murmurs caused by life threatening structural defects of the heart may only live for months or a few years. Flame Retardants and Hyperthyroidism in Cats, Saddle Thrombus: Aortic Blood Clots in Cats, Cat Hearts: The Feline Cardiovascular System. Notice: Ask-a-Vet is an affiliated service for those who wish to speak with a veterinary professional about their pet's specific condition. Once congestive heart failure sets in, drugs are added to help with edema (fluid buildup) in the lungs and the rest of the body. What types of heart disease do cats get cat laying on bench with string decorated with hearts heart murmur in cats life expectancy A heart condition in cats cannot be treated, but a cat can live a quality life if properly medicated and taken care of. Heart disease in cats is different from the most common type of heart disease in people. In some cases, HCM worsens quickly once diagnosed; in other cases, cats with mild disease may live symptom-free for years. Types and Causes of Heart Disease in Cats . These include many of the same drugs used in people and dogs with heart failure, such as diuretics and ACE inhibitors. With a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy, the survival rate reduces to between three months and three years. These cookies do not store any personal information. A thrombus (blood clot) may develop within one of the heart chambers (usually left atrium) in a cat … HCM has a strong familial link, with increased prevalence occurring in certain breeds (Maine Coon Cats, ragdolls, British shorthairs, American shorthairs, and Devon rexes). Many of these problems can be managed quite effectively. Congestive heart failure is a broad medical term that means that a cat’s heart can’t deliver enough blood to his or her body. Many cats affected with mild HCM live normal lives, never developing any symptoms of their heart disease. As a result, the fluid back-up makes breathing extremely difficult. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This then prevents them from pumping the blood needed around the body. However clinical signs often come on suddenly and can be severe – and correct decisions need to be made quickly to prevent death. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Heart Disease in Cats: Diagnosis, Treatment and Prognosis. If the heart beat is irregular anti-arrhythmic drugs will be given. How long can a cat live with chronic kidney disease? Blood begins to back up "upstream" into the right and left atrium, causing them to stretch abnormally. Find out more about congestive heart failure in cats and when to euthanise here. And this will need the expertise of a surgical specialist. Though less common than in dogs, some heart conditions in cats are serious and need to be treated medically. In severe cases, your cat may need to be hospitalized and may require surgery. Your cat may need periodic cage rest to prevent it running and jumping. Once signs of congestive heart failure set in, the life expectancy is 18 months or less. Heart Disease in Cats. Treating Cat Heart Disease. 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