Heart Murmurs in Cats
As 2011 wraps up, I can't help but think of sweet old Sarah, who needed to be euthanized in January due to cancer. She was an abandoned black mixed breed cat that my Mom picked up from a Pennsylvania campground back in the early 1990s. She had a host of health problems all of her long life, including a heart murmur which she had since kittenhood.
Feline heart murmurs should not be ignored. Although Sarah lived to be 19 with her murmur, not all cats are so lucky. Because heart murmurs in cats are caused by so many different things, it's best to let a veterinarian diagnose the cause and treatment. Sarah did not need treatment for the murmur, but she did need treatment for hyperthyroidism, which can aggravate circulation problems in the heart.
What Is It?
A heart murmur alters the sound of a cat's heart beat from a "lub-dub" into a "squish" or "swish" noise. It is caused by a disturbance in the blood flow inside of the cat's heart. However, there are many reasons why a cat would have circulation problems inside of her heart. Most of these do not need special treatment.
It was a total shock when Sarah was diagnosed with a heart murmur. As a kitten, she was so vibrant that she bounced off of the walls (literally!) Even as an adult, she wanted to play, socialize and supervise the household. Cats or kittens that suddenly go off play, pant more than usual and want to sleep more than usual often have heart murmurs. Check the cat's gums. If they have changed color, call the vet immediately. The cat could be going into heart failure.
Causes
Common causes include a leaky valve which can happen in old age or as a kitten matures. Kittens can grow out of a murmur, but older cats that develop murmurs tend to have them for the rest of their lives.
Serious causes include birth defects and feline cardiomyopathy or heart disease. Some breeds like the Maine Coon, the Persian and the American Shorthair are known for heart problems, although responsible breeders do nit breed cats with known heart problems. Hyperthyroidism can also cause thickening of the heart muscle, which causes heart disease which causes the murmur.
Diagnosis
After listening to your cat's heart with a stethoscope, the veterinarian will grade the murmur on a six point scale with 1 is the least serious and 6 is the most serious. Those cats showing symptoms of heart disease such as labored breathing, being tired all of the time and coughing regularly, need further tests, such as a chest X-ray or an ultrasound. Your vet may also want to take the cat's blood pressure, although cats are often not happy with this procedure. Cats with high blood pressure will need to be on blood pressure medication.
If the vet is not sure what is causing the heart murmur and the cat is suffering symptoms of heart failure, then the cat may be placed on an ACE inhibitor medication and a diuretic like furosemide to remove any excess fluid in the heart. In extreme cases, the cat may need surgery in order to drain any excess pools of fluid. If the cat's heart beat is far too fast but no fluid is suspected, then the cat may be placed on a beta blocker rather.
References
Carlson, Delbert , DVM; et al. Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook. Howell Book House; 1995.
VetInfo.com. "Cat Heart Murmur Diagnosis." http://www.vetinfo.com/cat-heart-murmur-diagnosis.html
2nd Chance. "Cardiomyopathy in Your Pet Cat: When Your Pet's Heart Fails." Ron Hines, DVM, PhD. http://www.2ndchance.info/cardiomyopathy-cat.htm
Author's personal experience(Please Do Not Use This Article in Place of a Veterinarian's Diagnosis)
Published by Rena Sherwood - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
Rena Sherwood is a freelance writer and Peter Gabriel fan who has lived both in America and England. She has studied animals most of her life through a synthesis of direct observation and insatiable reading.... View profile
Recognize the Signs of a Heart Murmur in Your PetYou may notice different behavior in your pet, your dog or cat, and observing their actions is your number one clue in recognizing what they may feel. After all, they can't tell...- Kawasaki Disease - Mostly Associated with Heart Problem Kawasaki is a rare disease seen mostly in Japanese and Korean descent children, and more so in Boys than in Girls. Recently Kawasaki Disease is seen in the United States and the rate is increasing.
Cat Health: When to Take Cats to the VetWhen to take cats to the vet can be a hard call. This article includes signs and symptoms of failing cat health and diseases that may require taking cats to the vet. Also includ...
Cat Weight IssuesIs your cat losing weight? If so, there can be several reasons why this may be happening. This article contains tips on how to know when it's time to take the cat to the Vet...- Chest Pain: Can Imminent Heart Attack Be Misdiagnosed in ER?The ER doctor may misdiagnose your chest pain as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
- Comprehending Feline Heart Disease
- What is a Physiologic Murmur?
- Facts About Feline Heart Disease
- Thrombocytopenia: Low Platelet Counts in Cats
- Can a Class 2 Heart Murmur Be Harmless?
- How to Combat Acute Pericarditis (Heart Problem)
- Cat Health Problem: Heartworms
4 Comments
Post a CommentNice article and my cat has a heart murmur but no other symptoms. Her vet thinks it's due to old age--she's 13.
thanks
This is an excellent piece. There are two sides to the coin when it comes to most pet illnesses. I fired a vet practice because one of the vets insisted that if I didn't get a cat that was still feral and nearly impossible to touch to a cardiologist right away, the cat needed a better home. Not a good thing to say to someone who rescues animals. In the course of around 6 months, the cat went from having a history of exams with no heart problems to a grade 3 murmur, this vet insisted. I found this suspicious. When I moved the cat to another practice, three of the vets there detected no murmur, both when the cat was sedated and awake and revved up, during multiple visits over a seven-month period. They also told me that a grade 3 murmur in a feral cat probably would not warrant a trip to a cardiologist. Live and learn.
Humans and pets do share many maladies.