Cat with enlarged heart

[LesleyW]

My  George has a condition called Tetarlogy of Fallot which is a serious heart condition.  This was originally picked up at his first vaccination at approximately ten weeks old.  the Vet could basically feel his heart murmur let alone hear it!.

George went to a wonderful cardiologist in Ringwood who diagnosed his condition.  He is on beta blockers and aspirin for his heart condition and he is now over four years old (which is the oldest I have known a cat live to with his condition).

The only advise I can give is that George's condition would not have been picked up if he had not gone to the specialist.  It was known he had a major heart murmur but it was only the ultrasound and other tests at the cardiologists that picked it up.  I would advise on the tests just to confirm the diagnosis but after that take things as they come.  George was supposed to have six monthly check ups but he gets very stressed (he was part feral when he was found as a kitten) and so my vet now advises me to only take him to the Vet if he gets really serious, we don't even vaccinate him now.  He was neutered at 18 months but this was done extremely quickly under a very light sedation.  He is kept indoors but he has always been an indoor cat so has never wanted to go out.  I do have to watch him if he plays too much as he gets very breathless and can turn purple!

Up to now George has done well.  He had a rough time a couple of years ago when I thought we may lose him, but he has rallied and every day with him is a bonus, the Cardiologist could not give me a life expectancy as his condition is very rare.

The only other matter I would raise is that with his bad heart the Cardiologist did warn that George may suffer a blood clot to his femural artery which would basically paralyse his back end.  I lost my Red to this, and he was in such pain with it, he was screaming the Hospital down so I had to let him go.

[Ollie2010]

Gillian, thanks thats a relief I will see how he is tomorrow and talk to the vet again if there is no change.  All other symptoms cleared up. 

Pinkbear.  I think I'm with you on this one although I have done a little investigation and found a local vet who is a small animal specialist so that could be an option as they may be able to do a better scn than my vet did.  She did try but is no expert (her words not mine!!)

Thanks for sharing your experiences with me its really helping 

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

I know that my advice differs from others and that's cool because we're all entitled to a different opinion. 

As I said previously, so long as you are confident the diagnosis is correct, I don't see what a specialist can offer. This is not a condition which can be rectified, unfortunately.  If insurance is involved that may be a different matter but if it's coming out of your own pocket that's a horrendous bill with no hope of a cure. 

My own vet performed one heart scan to confirm the diagnosis. He adviced against further scans (at £85 a time!) as all they would show is whether or not a deterioration had taken place. They won't actually fix the heart. 

As I've admitted my Jumpy no longer follows a drug regime but if my other cat came down with the same problem, my actions would be the same. Confirm diagnosis, start on the drugs and let their effectiveness determine dosage according to the vet's judgement and skills. 

[Gillian Harvey]

Ollie seems much better and has been out and about!  Seems completely whacked out this afternoon though I'm hoping this is just the drugs kicking in as its his forth day on the fortekor, any others experienced this with their cats?

Yes, my Sam was like that on Fortekor, I talked to the vet about it and she recommended halving the dose for him, which I did and he's been on half a 2.5mg fortekor ever since. She said if he's doing ok on the lower dose just keep him on it.

Fortekor can also cause an initial spike in creatinine - which may be what is affecting Ollie. 

[Ollie2010]

Well we've been back to the vets still unsure on what to do about the specialist it is £600 Vet suggested seeing how he went on the drugs for a while and then taking it from there.  Ollie seems much better and has been out and about!  Seems completely whacked out this afternoon though I'm hoping this is just the drugs kicking in as its his forth day on the fortekor, any others experienced this with their cats?

[Gillian Harvey]

My Sam was diagnosed with HCM over a year ago, he's also on Fortekor and frusemide. He used to cough a lot, like he had furballs, and it took me a while to realise he wasnt actually coughing anything up! He was actually quite poorly when he was diagnosed, as fluid had built up in his chest and my vet gave a poor prognosis (months she said) He had x-rays and a scan (which showed the fluid) and the fluid had to be drawn off surgically because he was struggling - the fluid was tested and was found to be a particular type of fluid build up (chyle) - this is treated pretty much the same as other fluid - but I looked into it and found there was something called rutin which had been found to help prevent the build up of chyle - so with my vets agreement I started him on that as well, plus he has a taurine supplement (very important for cats with heart probs).

He started to improve after the fluid was drained off and he was taking fortekor and frusemide, but he still wasnt eating well, it was only after a few weeks on the rutin and taurine supps that he really picked up and he's beeing doing fine ever since, although there are times when his breathing gets worse, then (again, with vets say so) I increase the frequency of his frusemide dose (he's only on a tiny dose - half every other day) to half every day for three or four days, and that usually helps. He's not needed to have fluid drained surgically again, thank goodness! although my vet did say he might have to.

He's not on any special diet, just his normal food, wet food/raw, very little dry, because you have to be careful about giving enough moisture to compensate for the dehydrating effect of the frusemide.

There is a heart group on Yahoo, might be worth joining to get more info, it helped me a lot when Sam was first diagnosed. http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/feline-heart/

[Ollie2010]

He's not been too bothered about going out whilst he's not been 100% but now he's feeling a bit better he is staring out of the window wistfully  I believe that cats are free spirits anyway so should be left to do their own thing!!  He usually gets let out in the morning and if we are in then we leave the window open so he can get in and out if not he camps out under the big hedge at the bottom of the garden.  He can dissapear for hours on end then and I have been known to drive round the block looking for him.  But I do like him to be in at night. 

Can't thank you all enough for your responses and feel more optimistic about it all now seeing others are managing with meds, etc. 

[LilyandGary]

Off the top of my head, the cost of the consultation, day as an in-patient and tests was about £500 for Colin. He was seen 3 years ago.

Several years ago I had a small spaniel undergo similar tests for a heart murmur. This was in London, not the Midlands, and cost £600 so I wasnt surprised at how much Colin`s consult cost.

I totally agree with Pinkbear in that keeping him in if he`s an outdoor type is prob going to cause him stress, this is the reason I let Colin do his own thing. Keeping him as a house cat after 2 years of freedom wouldnt have been fair, and you really dont know he has a problem. I get him in at night because that`s what I`ve always done, but sometimes in the summer he`s no-where to be seen! I take the view as long as I`ve seen him that evening I`ll just have to trust he`ll be ok, and he has always returned in the morning. I do keep him in if I think there are going to be fireworks or a thunder storm, but I do that with all mine. It`s difficult at first because I want to keep him safe, but I just have to think that if I hadnt taken him to the vet for his booster, I would be none the wiser!

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

The cracking and coughing is caused by fluid which collects and rises to the lungs. The Diuretic will help but it can take a time to find the correct dose and it also takes a while for the tablets to take full effect. 3/4 days after starting you should see a dramatic improvement and if it's working 100% you shouldn't hear any crackling or coughing at all. 

I don't think keeping him in is going to have any great benefits unless you live in an area where he is likely to get into trouble. With heart problem cats the aim is to reduce stress and some of them get highly stressed being confined if they are used to having their freedom. A little bit of fresh air in the morning will probably help no end. 

[Ollie2010]

Also, Sharon what sort of cardio diet is your kitty on?

[Ollie2010]

Thanks again for your replies people.  Ollie is a bit better again today wanting to play and is desperate to go out (he's an outdoorsy type).  We will see how he is tomorrow and if there are no crackles on his chest and weather permitting I may let him go out.  It seems unfair to keep him couped up indoors. 

"Lilyand Gary" out of interst what sort of costs were involved in seeing the specialist, our insurance is limited to a certain amount.  Not that the money matters I will go anyway Ollie is part of the family I inted on giving him the best shot 

[LilyandGary]

Sorry to hear that Ollie hasnt been well.

My cat Colin was diagnosed with a heart problem when he was aged 2. It was found by my vet during a routine check-up and since he`s insured I took him to see a specialist in Kenilworth, Warks. We got an appointment very quickly, and the chap was very nice and caring.

Colin was diagnosed with cardio-myopathy (?sp), a borderline case. He had to stay there for the day, having x-rays and scans. The vet was not too worried about him especially after he jumped up onto the top shelf of his bookcase from standing! He did say Colin was not a serious case, and he did see cats with far worse heart problems. In Colin`s case he felt it was a genetic, heriditary problem rather than aquired.  

In Colin`s case he felt that giving him beta-blocker meds at this stage would not make a jot of difference to him so we didnt bother. Colin is an outdoors type, and was a feral kitten from a farm. He felt that Colin would probably be fine until 8 or more years, when he may show signs such as breathing rapidly after running! The thought of medicating him daily from such an early age would probably send the both of us scatty!

Colin is now aged 5, and as yet has not had any further signs. He clears the 6` fence in a flash if he thinks I`m going to get him in (I do have him in overnight and he`s very good unless he`s distraced by mice etc). He has been hanging around the house more recently, but this is due to the bad weather and lack of things to hunt!

I also had a cat who had a serious stroke and completly lost the use of his back legs suddenly late one night. This was due to a blood clot blocking his femural artery. He had seen the vet a few months before, and nothing was noted then. He was only 7, but had had viral meningitis aged 2 which he recovered fully from. This probably set up an underlying problem for him when he was older. Nothing could have predicted either of his illnesses, and he had a good quality of life until he had the stroke.

If it was me, I would see a specialist just to get some sound advice.

[Millys Mum]

 
I dont have a cat with a heart problem but i would definately say go see a specialist. Its easy to misdiagnose an illness, a specialist centre can investigate alot more throughly, one of mine went to the emergency vets with breathing problems, they sent her x rays to america for an expert to look at and she was meant to have a lung tumour, it was refer her or pts.
She actually has asthma not cancer! Had i not got a second opinion id be missing my lola 

I hope Ollie does well on his meds and has a long and happy life 

[Canterbury_cats (Sharon)]

I have a 14 yr old Siamese female with heart issue.. Came on all of a sudden a few yrs back with very quick breathing issues.. She went to the emergency vet and they first thought a tumour . However aftter further investigation and a few days of intensive care they reported her condition. She has been on the same tablets and Julie cats for a few yrs now and takes with no problem what so ever. (in a Webbox treat) every few months she has to have a check up and keeping their weight constant is something to always look out for. You would not know she has any problems. 

Luckily she was seen by one of the countries leading cardi vets Dr Chris Little who works ofr Barton Vets in Canterbury. He did actually save her life..She was misdiagnosed to start with as the xrays revealed a shadow that they thought was a tumour but turned out to be fluid.. if she did not take her tablets so readily and easily i am sure i would be in the same position as Julie.. However, making sure general health is kept good with an dood diet (she does have dodgy teeth) so is fed on dental diet, but you can get special cardio diet.. With such a young cat maybe your puss cat was born with this condition.. Its a very hidden condition, usually you never get to know about it until breathing gets bad or noticeable..

My puss cat is insured so i can afford the tablets and extra consults.. Having an ultrasound is well wroth doing as it helps vets get a base point at a certain stage and age and they then can work out if its getting worse or stable. But there is not any cure andmost older cats have a heart mumour as a fact of life of getting older..

I was told by Dr Little that althugh younger cats disagnosed with such conditions often have a shorter life expectancy. New tablets, early warning and diet can help a cat achieve a ripe all old age.. So many years later Bella is still with me and still going strong.. Her check up in Dec was fine but the weight is an issue as it puts extra strain on the heart.. also due to the tablets they often drink more.. I would (if you can) look at the specific diets for Cardio issue as i know that Chris mentioned scientific journals have concluded that it can be very helpful..

Good luck though

[Tiggy's Mum]

  to Purrs, sorry it's not under happier circumstances 

You say your vet has suggested referral to a specialist - do you know what tests he has had so far? One of my cats was tested for heart issues at around 6 months old, I was very lucky and it turned out to be human hypochondria but he had lots of tests - ECG's, ultrasounds, an X-ray to measure the size of everything and a special blood test that tested for heart issues (was told this was fairly new, mind you it was about 2 years ago now) although not sure of the name of this.

Hope you have some more positive news next time he sees the vet 

[carol377]

Hi there im new here too, but my cat Elliott a lovely long haired grey moggy was also diagnosed with an enlarged heart he was on medication the vet told me his life expectancy would be shorter than normal but as he was only 3 years old we were told we had a good few years left with him. Unfortunately and sadly this was not the case, my Elliot decided to go walk about which he rarely left the house he went for about 2 days, i was frantic. When i returned home one day i found my boy on the path on the way down to my door he was dragging himself along the concrete his back legs were totally limp god only knows how he managed to get home like that but he did his legs with furr missings and sores where he had dragged himself home. Off to the vets we went, we were told it was probably a stroke or some kind of tuma or even a nerve problem, his back legs were put in plaster, we were told her may never walk again, but we never gave up on him and eventually he started using his legs again and slowly but surely got back on his feet. However, one day he was really off it like he couldn't settle he jumped off the sofa meowed and layed down on the floor he quietly passed away. I was devasted my larger than life boy had gone, he had a huge personality im sure he was part human, i miss him so much he was just so beautiful all my other cats used to walk a mile around hiim he was the boss of them all but a big softie!

All i will say is get the best vet give your cat the best life you can possibly give, my cat obviously had other problems surrounding the enlarged heart which we just were not aware of.

Hope all goes well for you and your lovely cat.

take care

[Ollie2010]

Hi, thanks for replies guys.....think i'm gonna go with seeing a specialist he's insured so i may as well take advantage!!  He's struggling a bit at the moment with coughing and breathing but that seems to be easing with the frusemide.  He seems to have these little spells of crackly chest, coughing and difficulty breathing every couple of months which eventually led to this diagnosis.  Hoping the fortekor with even things out a little bit too.  When he's well he's very well    Will try and post a pic he's a ginger and white moggy.....bloomin lovely he is!! 

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

Hi 

My Jumpy has cardio myopathy, which sounds the same to me. Jumpy is now 16 years old and was diagnosed 6 years ago. He was on the same meds as yours is - one is a diuretic as fluid retention is a major problem in cats with this kind of condition. Unfortunately eventually Jumpy refused to comply with any kind of medication so I withdrew the meds altogether two years ago. He is quietly (but comfortably) fading away, interspersed with fits of manic racing around like a 6 month old. 

A cat with an enlarged heart is unlikely to live as long as a cat with a normal heart, but it does need pointing out that a great many cats do have enlarged hearts but their owners never become aware. It's much more common than is realised.  I was told the likely cause was damage after a simple virus, which made perfect sense to me. I certainly wouldn't waste my money seeing a consultant as it's a problem which can't be reversed and no end of diagnostics are going to help. 

So... it's not exactly a good thing to discover, nor is it the end of the world as lots can be done to support puss. There's no reason why puss can't live a long and happy life providing you invest in good care and a good diet. 

[bunglycat]

Hi ,
Welcome to Purrs
My Smartie was diagnosed with a enlarged heart around 3 years ago now -he is on Fortekur and touch wood has been fine with no problems -he also has asthma and has 1mg prednisolone too (sp!).
Have you any pics of Oliie ?

[Ollie2010]

Hi, i'm new here   

I'm looking for some general advice and came across this forum.  My two year old cat Ollie has been diagnosed today with an enlarged heart and pulmory oedima he has been perscribed fortekor and has been on frusemide.  My Vet has suggested he be refered to a feline heart specialist to find out the underlying cause.

Does any one have any experiences they can share with me...any cats with the same??

Thanks any info gratefully recieved