Cat Heath: Heart Murmur
With cat health, a heart murmur or any heart condition can be very concerning. However, the diagnosis of a heart murmur does not necessarily mean that there is a serious health condition.
It is not unusual for a kitten to have a heart murmur at birth, and have it go away on its own within six months. And just as in humans, many times a heart murmur does not require any treatment. It depends on the severity of the murmur and if it causes or is associated with other health problems.
A heart murmur is usually diagnosed when your veterinarian listens to your cat's heart and notices irregularities in the heart beat. However, to determine the cause of the murmur and whether or not there is a serious health issue, further testing is required. This may involve x-rays, an electrocardiogram (ECG), or an echocardiography. An echocardiography is an advanced type of testing that uses
Heart murmurs are graded from I to VI, with I being barely audible, and VI have the strongest intensity. They are also classified into three types. The first class is innocent, and is the type often found in kittens. The second class is functional, and may be present when the cat has conditions such as anemia, a fever, or hyperthyroidism. The third class is pathologic, and usually involves the presence of congenital heart disease, an aortic obstruction, a diseased valve, or cardiomyopathy.
Performing a surgical procedure on a cat with a heart murmur may incur some risks. For example, if you are considering having your cat spayed or neutered and he has a heart murmur, your vet may want to run tests to determine the severity of the murmur first.
Generally, a heart murmur that has not been detected in previous exams is more likely to signal the presence of heart disease. This is not always the case, but further examination is recommended in this case. Heart disease is a fairly common feline problem and unfortunately, your cat may show no symptoms when it is present. And it can occur at any stage in a cat's life. When diagnosed early and followed up with proper treatment, a cat with heart disease may be able to live many years.
A common form of cat disease is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This is when the walls of the heart become enlarged. It can start as early as 6 months. A cat with HCM will often develop a heart murmur also. HCM can be treated if diagnosed early. Symptoms of HCM include problems breathing, low energy level, and decreased appetite.
In cat health, a heart murmur may or may not be something serious. It is always best to have your cat checked regularly by your veterinarian to detect any potentially serious heart health issues early on so your cat can be given the appropriate treatment and live the best life possible.