Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats: symptoms and treatment
Felines can suffer from various heart diseases. Let’s look at the symptoms and treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats is a very frequent heart disease that can affect our four-legged friend, some experts claim that it is a hereditary disease.
Since the cat’s heart does not pump properly, this disorder causes problems in the feline’s circulatory system. Let’s see together what are the symptoms and treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats: symptoms
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a heart disease that affects cats of any age, but is often identified above all in elderly ones and in some feline breeds, such as:
Ragdoll
Persian
Main Coon
British Shorthair
Sphynx
The symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are varied and can very often be confused with those of other heart diseases that can affect our four-legged friend, which is why the diagnosis is important . The most common symptoms are:
Depression in the cat
Loss of appetite in the cat
Inactivity
Apathy
Respiratory difficulties
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats: diagnosis and treatment
As mentioned above, since the symptoms of this condition are common and can be symptoms of other diseases, diagnosis is very important.
For this reason it is advisable to rely on a veterinarian cardiologist, who will perform an echocardiography, the only test capable of identifying hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, to ascertain the presence of the disease in the cat. In addition, the specialist may take a chest X-ray just to check if the disease is advanced.
Treatment
The treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in felines varies according to the state of health of the cat and the age. It is important to know that there is no real cure for this disease, but there is a therapy capable of helping the cat to live with this disorder. Depending on the severity, the specialist may decide to give the cat a therapy consisting of:
Diuretics: to lower the fluid in the lungs
Beta-blockers: to decrease the heart rate in case of tachycardia
Calcium blockers: to relax the heart
Acetylsalicylic acid: to prevent thromboembolism
ACE inhibitors: to decrease the cardiac load
It is also necessary for the feline to feed on food containing little salt, to avoid water retention. It is also recommended that the cat suffering from this pathology does not make efforts and too much physical activity. If your kitty suffers from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, even if there is no cure, just listen and do everything the vet says and you will see that your four-legged friend’s health will improve.
