How long do cats live with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
It is not unusual for patients to become symptomatic without any suspicion of previous heart disease. Once in congestive heart failure, most cats with HCM have a life expectancy of 6 and 18 months.
What does it mean when a cat has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition that causes the muscular walls of a cat’s heart to thicken, decreasing the heart’s efficiency and sometimes creating symptoms in other parts of the body.
What kind of heart disease does a cat have?
Hyperthyroidism in Cats Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most commonly diagnosed cardiac disease in cats. Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition that causes the muscular walls of a cat’s heart to thicken, decreasing the heart’s efficiency and sometimes creating symptoms in other parts of the body.
What is the prognosis for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
HCM is most commonly a progressive disease, and findings that suggest a worse prognosis include congestive heart failure, thromboembolism, and hypothermia (low body temperature). However, in many cases, medical therapy can significantly improve your cat’s quality of life.
What are the symptoms of HCM in cats?
Many cats with HCM do not appear to be ill. Others may show signs of congestive heart failure, including labored or rapid breathing, open-mouthed breathing, and lethargy. These symptoms occur when fluid accumulates in or around the lungs. A serious and potentially life-threatening consequence of HCM is the formation of blood clots in the heart.
What is the life expectancy of a cat with heart disease?
Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a dangerous condition that refers to the thickening of the lower chambers, or ventricles, in a cat’s heart. The average life expectancy for a cat that suffers from this disease is under eight hundred days, and it is rare for an affected cat to live longer than four years.
What to know about congestive heart failure in cats?
Congestive heart failure can occur if your cat’s heart isn’t pumping enough blood to other parts of their body, causing fluid to back up in the lungs. In later stages, your cat will show obvious difficulty with breathing due to this excess fluid.
What is HCM in cats?
Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a disease of the heart muscle in which the walls thicken and the heart enlarges. HCM is an inherited disease in many purebred cats, however, it is the average house cat who is most commonly diagnosed with the condition, usually at midlife.
What does enlarged heart mean for cats?
Cat Enlarged Heart. A congestive heart failure in cats is commonly known as cat enlarged heart. This condition is one of the more serious cat heart problems. The enlargement takes place when the cat’s heart cannot keep up with the demands of its body’s circulation.
