Disease that sneakily takes your pets.
Before you even realize what is happening , your cat can be very ill or even die suddenly .
Apparently healthy pet cats have heart disease or heart murmurs.
The most common type of feline heart disease is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
HCM isn’t curable but it could be managed with natural supplements and meat based diet
Apparently healthy pet cats have heart disease or heart murmurs.
The most common type of feline heart disease is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
HCM isn’t curable but it could be managed with natural supplements and meat based diet
Studies Show that Healthy Cats Have Heart Problems
2004 at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston concluded study of 103 cats
Of the 103 cats in the study, 22 (21%) had detectable heart murmurs. Of the 22 cats with heart murmurs, echocardiography was performed on 7, 6 of which turned out to have heart disease.
Thirteen kitties were examined more than once for the study, and 3 of them developed heart murmurs during the course of the study.
Thirteen kitties were examined more than once for the study, and 3 of them developed heart murmurs during the course of the study.
The objective was to determine the prevalence of cardiomyopathy in healthy cats, as well as the relationship between cardiomyopathy and heart murmurs.2
A heart murmur was detected in 16 cats (15.5%), 5 of which had cardiomyopathy (a disease of the heart muscle). Cardiomyopathy was also identified in another 16 cats, 15 of which had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the most common form of feline heart disease. The researchers concluded that:common type of primary heart disease in cats.
A heart murmur was detected in 16 cats (15.5%), 5 of which had cardiomyopathy (a disease of the heart muscle). Cardiomyopathy was also identified in another 16 cats, 15 of which had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the most common form of feline heart disease. The researchers concluded that:common type of primary heart disease in cats.
The researchers concluded that:
- Cardiomyopathy is common in healthy cats
- In apparently healthy cats, a heart murmur isn't a reliable indicator of the presence of cardiomyopathy
However, in a 2011 study of 32 apparently healthy cats with heart murmurs, heart disease was detected in over half (53%). Those researchers concluded that heart murmurs detected in routine physical exams of healthy cats warrant further investigation.3
Sometimes very serious heart disorder in a cat can remain hidden for years before it suddenly expresses itself.
Congenital and Acquired Heart Defects
There are two types of feline heart defects congenital and acquired. Congenital heart disease is when the cats are born with it and signs often appear at a young age, in some cats congenital heart disease can be hidden for years.
-Congenital heart disease can be caused by a malformation of the heart as a kitten develops in utero, or it can be caused by an inherited disorder .
The outcome for cat with a congenital cardiac disorder depends on the severity of the defect. Minor defects may not affect a cat's life at all, while more serious disorders usually require medical treatment. The most severe defects typically carry bad prognosis.
The outcome for cat with a congenital cardiac disorder depends on the severity of the defect. Minor defects may not affect a cat's life at all, while more serious disorders usually require medical treatment. The most severe defects typically carry bad prognosis.
-Acquired or adult onset heart disease in cats results from damage to the heart that occurs over time.
The most common type of acquired heart disease is cardiomyopathy. That is a structural abnormality in the muscle surrounding one or both chambers of the heart. Typically the left ventricle becomes thickened, dilated or scarred.
The abnormality inhibits the heart's ability to collect and pump blood, which can lead to congestive heart failure and fluid in or around the lungs. Other complications of cardiomyopathy include blood clots that cause paralysis, and sudden death.
The abnormality inhibits the heart's ability to collect and pump blood, which can lead to congestive heart failure and fluid in or around the lungs. Other complications of cardiomyopathy include blood clots that cause paralysis, and sudden death.
Most important role for developing disease are genetic and lifestyle (weight, diet, and physical activity) sometimes the condition develops secondarily to another disorder such as anemia, hyperthyroidism, or high blood pressure.
The primary cardiomyopathies diagnosed in cats: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, and dilated cardiomyopathy.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is by far the most common type of primary heart disease in cats.
From a clinical point of view, clinical symptoms are generally evident in adulthood (4.8-7 years),More frequently in males, although in Ragdoll and Maine Coon cats the disease can
arise prematurely (< 2 years).
The varying degrees of disease are variable: from asymptomatic forms to the sudden appearance of Congestive heart failure; rarely in asymptomatic patients there is syncope or death.
From a clinical point of view, clinical symptoms are generally evident in adulthood (4.8-7 years),More frequently in males, although in Ragdoll and Maine Coon cats the disease can
arise prematurely (< 2 years).
The varying degrees of disease are variable: from asymptomatic forms to the sudden appearance of Congestive heart failure; rarely in asymptomatic patients there is syncope or death.
Hypertrophic means thickened — the walls and ventricles of the heart become too thick, or hypertrophied. HCM is often inherited in cats, and there's a test available for a specific gene mutation.
Purebred cats such as the Persian, other oriental breeds, and American shorthairs are also predisposed to the condition.
However, it's the regular house cat that is most commonly diagnosed with HCM. Cats usually develop the condition when they reach middle age, but it can occur at any age.
However, it's the regular house cat that is most commonly diagnosed with HCM. Cats usually develop the condition when they reach middle age, but it can occur at any age.
Symptoms of Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Vary
Cats with mild disease don't always have symptoms. But cat with disease will typically show signs of condition.
In practice we sow that cats are masters at disguising illness, so until the condition is severe, even a very sick cat may have no symptoms, or very mild symptoms that don't seem to be indicative of heart disease. In cats with obvious symptoms, there can be respiratory distress caused by congestive heart failure, or leg paralysis due to a blood clot.
In practice we sow that cats are masters at disguising illness, so until the condition is severe, even a very sick cat may have no symptoms, or very mild symptoms that don't seem to be indicative of heart disease. In cats with obvious symptoms, there can be respiratory distress caused by congestive heart failure, or leg paralysis due to a blood clot.
Cats suffering congestive heart failure tend to breathe through an open mouth, and they sometimes pant.
You should watch for breathing difficulties Some cats with HCM and congestive heart failure have a hard time walking any distance without stopping to rest.
You should watch for breathing difficulties Some cats with HCM and congestive heart failure have a hard time walking any distance without stopping to rest.
Treatment of Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
There is no cure for HCM, and changes that occur to the heart muscle are permanent.A natural supplement called nattokinase can help reduce the risk of blood clots.
No drugs have proved consistently effective in improving the heart function in HCM patients. And unfortunately, often cats with HCM are not treated until congestive heart failure has developed.
No drugs have proved consistently effective in improving the heart function in HCM patients. And unfortunately, often cats with HCM are not treated until congestive heart failure has developed.
Many cats with this disorder have been successful treated using a combination of high doses of ubiquinol and omega-3 fatty acids, certain amino acids, including taurine, L-arginine, and acetyl L-carnitine. We use Heart glandulars and herbs, including hawthorn as well.
Because amino acid deficiency (a dietary shortage of meat-based protein) can fuel HCM, it’s ideal for patients to consume a human-grade, meat-based diet, and eliminate all grains and unnecessary carbohydrates that cats don't need anyway .
Vitamin D and its role in heart disease Identifying and treating vitamin D deficiency is an important step in reducing diet-related cardiovascular diseases
Important Tips to keep your pet’s hart healthy
First ask your veterinarian to do blood test and check if your pet has early signs of heart disease.
Help your cat maintain fit body by feeding a balanced, species-appropriate diet that meets your pet's nutritional requirements for optimal protein levels, healthy fat and coenzyme Q10. The unnecessary carbohydrates found in most processed cat foods offsets the amount of protein cats need, making carbs a significant nutritional contributing factor to feline heart disease.
Additionally, the high temperatures the food is processed at inactivates the delicate fatty acids, so even though the label says it contains the correct amount of essential fatty acids to maintain excellent cardiovascular health, they've been inactivated through the manufacturing process.
The amount of taurine, carnitine and CoQ10 found naturally in unprocessed meat is important to feline heart health. These vital nutrients are not found in adequate quantities in most dry foods, and processing further diminishes their bioavailability. This is another reason starch-free foods (no grains or potatoes) are best for cats.
The amount of taurine, carnitine and CoQ10 found naturally in unprocessed meat is important to feline heart health. These vital nutrients are not found in adequate quantities in most dry foods, and processing further diminishes their bioavailability. This is another reason starch-free foods (no grains or potatoes) are best for cats.
If you feed dry or canned food, supplement your pet's diet with coenzyme Q10 in the form of ubiquinol, as well as additional marine sources of omega-3 fatty acids (krill oil), especially if you have a cat that may be predisposed to cardiovascular disease.Supplements for your pets like extra CoQ10 can insure she has the quantity her body needs to maintain a healthy heart muscle. With doing that you will maintain your pets healthy.
Written by Imrana Sljivo DVM
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