Heart disease in pets

My cat was diagnosed with HCM yesterday. The clinic heard the murmur and I got around to the heart ultrasound and EKG finally.

It’s in the beginning stages, but they were not able to tell me how quickly it can progress in cats because every cat is different. Apparently in dogs it develops more linear.

I go back in 6 months with him for another ultrasound and EKG. They didn’t sound too concerned yet.

He’s also 17 pounds and needs to lose weight. They suggested I give him zucchini to fill him up. Yeah, right .

Anyone have any experience with HCM or zucchini?

Re: Heart disease in pets

My dog had a murmur and in August they told us he had Heart failure. Sadly, he passed away last week. Its real raw and been horrible.

I dont have experience with heart disease in cats, but keep monitoring it and wish him the best.

Also good luck with the zucchini, I found that part funny. Cats are so stubborn and do their own thing. Tell us how his diet goes and if you get him to be receptive to the food.

Re: Heart disease in pets

Posted by Sash

My dog had a murmur and in August they told us he had Heart failure. Sadly, he passed away last week. Its real raw and been horrible.

I dont have experience with heart disease in cats, but keep monitoring it and wish him the best.

Also good luck with the zucchini, I found that part funny. Cats are so stubborn and do their own thing. Tell us how his diet goes and if you get him to be receptive to the food.

Message edited 11/5/2021 3:39:08 PM.

Re: Heart disease in pets

My cat had an enlarged heart. It was identified at 12 weeks when i adopted him, the vet heard the murmur and sent him to a specialist.

The specialist told me he would never make it to 8 years old, but if I was consistent with his care he would have a good life. He had to start enalapril (heart medication daily) immediately and needed an echo every 6 months.

I asked my vet what he thought after the specialist - he said "you never know how long you have with a pet, he could die of kidney failure at 2 years old with no warning, you KNOW what time you have, so maybe just love him a little more every day and I know you will never take him for granted..."

So i did just that, I loved him was was thankful for every day I had with him. My vet said "If love could have healed his heart he'd have the heart of a lion"

He actually just passed away... at TWELVE years old.

Just be consistent with his meds and the vets advice as much as possible. Good luck

ETA: With the food my vet said "do your best, he's going to die of his heart not from the fancy feast, if thats all he wants, let him eat it" He said a dog won't starve, eventually a dog will eat it, a cat will let himself starve rather than eat something he doesnt want

Message edited 11/8/2021 2:44:17 PM.

Re: Heart disease in pets

Posted by TheWhiteRabbit

My cat had an enlarged heart. It was identified at 12 weeks when i adopted him, the vet heard the murmur and sent him to a specialist.

The specialist told me he would never make it to 8 years old, but if I was consistent with his care he would have a good life. He had to start enalapril (heart medication daily) immediately and needed an echo every 6 months.

I asked my vet what he thought after the specialist - he said "you never know how long you have with a pet, he could die of kidney failure at 2 years old with no warning, you KNOW what time you have, so maybe just love him a little more every day and I know you will never take him for granted..."

So i did just that, I loved him was was thankful for every day I had with him. My vet said "If love could have healed his heart he'd have the heart of a lion"

He actually just passed away... at TWELVE years old.

Just be consistent with his meds and the vets advice as much as possible. Good luck

ETA: With the food my vet said "do your best, he's going to die of his heart not from the fancy feast, if thats all he wants, let him eat it" He said a dog won't starve, eventually a dog will eat it, a cat will let himself starve rather than eat something he doesnt want

Re: Heart disease in pets

Don’t know if treatment for cats and dogs are the same but my oldest dog Fred (my avatar) was diagnosed with a heart murmur when he was 11. He was a little over weight so we put him on low fat dog food and he got thinner. Then by age 13 it was bad enough to need further testing and was put on Vetmedin and enalipril to slow down the progression of this heart disease. He has an extremely enlarged heart and the murmur is at the max but here we’re are at a few months shy of 16 and the meds are keeping him stable. He unfortunately just started with renal disease as well and is now on a kidney diet. Low protein, low phosphorous. And with the less eating and his age / he’s losing weight too fast. So now I’m giving him pasta and white rice with his food and he seems ok.

So with his heart disease, it slowly progressed and once it got to him needing meds, he’s been “stable” for a few years.