Mary Allen
It is not uncommon for heart disease to develop as a result of other serious illnesses. Once the heart has weakened, drug treatment is essential. In addition, diet and dehydration relieve the diseased heart.
The cat’s heart weighs just 10 to 25 g, and despite its low weight, it’s the muscle in the body that works the hardest. When the cat is relaxed, it beats about 160 times a minute. However, if the cat gets excited or exerts himself, his heart will race at over 250 beats per minute. This means that blood flows into the two ventricles of the heart 250 times a minute and is pumped back out into the circulatory system or into the lungs by the heart muscle.
Congenital Heart Defects Are Rare
Only a heart in top shape can withstand this strain in the long run. Fortunately, most cats are born with a healthy, efficient heart. Only about 10% of heart disease in cats is due to congenital heart disease. The vast majority of heart diseases are acquired; H. the cat only developed heart disease in the course of its life. Diseases of the heart muscle tissue (cardiomyopathies) usually develop in cats. Damage to the heart valves, inflammation of the lining of the heart, calcification of the arteries, or infestation with heartworms are extremely rare. In the case of diseases of the heart muscle tissue, i.e. cardiomyopathies, there are roughly four forms: hypertrophic, dilated, restrictive, and unclassified cardiomyopathy. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common. The heart muscle thickens, especially in the left ventricle. As a result, the cavity of the chamber becomes smaller and can no longer hold as much blood at once. This means that the heart has to beat faster in order to transport the same amount of blood as before, which inevitably overwhelms the heart. At the same time, there is a lack of oxygen in the heart muscle itself.
The Blood Stays In The Heart For Too Long
The second most common is dilated cardiomyopathy. Her heart muscles become thin and flabby. The heart chambers then fill up without any problems, but the heart muscle does not have the strength to press the blood out of the heart again. Incidentally, dilated cardiomyopathy used to be the most common heart disease in cats. It was caused by a lack of the amino acid taurine. Ever since the importance of taurine was recognized, it has been added to cat food and dilated cardiomyopathies have become rare. Restrictive cardiomyopathy is extremely rare. Here connective tissue fibers grow between the heart muscle cells and prevent the filling of the chambers. Finally, the unclassified cardiomyopathy presents the veterinarian with a great puzzle: It cannot be assigned to any of the forms mentioned above and is therefore also very difficult to treat.
Causes Often Remain Unexplained
The causes of heart disease are also often a mystery. Rarely can a clear cause be found? Infections, hormone disorders, toxins, but also hereditary factors can cause heart disease. In fact, Persian and Maine Coon cats are more likely to suffer from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, while Siamese, Burmese and Abyssinian cats are more likely to suffer from the dilated form. Kidney damage, which is quite common in older cats, increases blood pressure and can also damage the heart. Cats aged eight or nine years and older should therefore have their kidney values checked routinely. Another cause of heart problems in older cats can also be hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid gland. If the vet intervenes in time and manages to slow down the function of the thyroid gland, he may be able to prevent heart damage. Differentiating the forms is difficult. Because the symptoms of the various heart diseases are very similar. Cats with heart disease usually suffer from shortness of breath, tire easily, and can have bluish mucous membranes. Cats with dilated cardiomyopathy are also often emaciated and sometimes have cool limbs. The veterinarian can only make a definitive diagnosis after complex and expensive examinations. In any case, a cardiac examination includes a thorough listening to the heart, several chest X-rays from different “viewpoints”, at least one ECG, laboratory tests of the blood, and ideally also an ultrasound examination. Only with the help of the ultrasound can the vet observe the heart at work.
Therapy Only After A Precise Diagnosis
A clear diagnosis is so important because only then can the cat be treated properly. This is because the heart-strengthening drugs that help cats with dilated cardiomyopathy are harmful if they suffer from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. On the other hand, the “heart calming” drugs used in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy further weaken the already too weak heart muscle in the dilated form.
Don’t Tinker Around Yourself
Cardiac medications are powerful drugs that sometimes interfere with other remedies, including herbal ones. Before giving your cat anything “cardiac” talk to your veterinarian. There are no “harmless” remedies for a cat with heart disease! In addition to the specific heart medication, the vet usually also prescribes diuretics and, if necessary, recommends a diet. The goal of any heart disease treatment is to relieve the burden on the diseased organ. Most cats cannot be cured – but with the right medication, they can live a long and healthy life.