My Specs has a heart murmur *Update/8/7*

[nepeta]

Heart murmurs can be symptoms of a whole lot of things including nothing at all. Some are completely (or nearly so) harmless, others represent more serious heart conditions. They are graded on a 1 to 6 scale, with 1 being mild and 6 being serious.


If it's toward the higher end, the vet may want to run an ultrasound (echocardiogram) to see if there's a problem such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This is a condition where the heart wall thickens and becomes less compliant so the heart doesn't pump as effectively. HCM is an extremely variable condition. I have two cats with mild HCM who have been treated for about 5 years or so with a once a day pill. Sammy, who died last year at age 19 had very pronounced HCM as well as chronic renal failure. Even so, she lasted 5 years with the condition. And she'd had the heart murmur much longer, and I suspect congenital. (I got her when she was 9, and she had the heart murmur then.)

However, other cats succumb quickly. HCM cats are susceptible to throwing blood clots that can completely block an artery.

[lvpets2002]

Oh No Mary so sorry to read this news.. Are you going to take Specs to see Dr. Lee also for their judgement?? Oh I hope Specs will be ok.. Sending Lots of Good Vibes & Prayers from my clann..

[Medusa]

Heart murmurs can be symptoms of a whole lot of things including nothing at all. Some are completely (or nearly so) harmless, others represent more serious heart conditions. They are graded on a 1 to 6 scale, with 1 being mild and 6 being serious.


If it's toward the higher end, the vet may want to run an ultrasound (echocardiogram) to see if there's a problem such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This is a condition where the heart wall thickens and becomes less compliant so the heart doesn't pump as effectively. HCM is an extremely variable condition. I have two cats with mild HCM who have been treated for about 5 years or so with a once a day pill. Sammy, who died last year at age 19 had very pronounced HCM as well as chronic renal failure. Even so, she lasted 5 years with the condition. And she'd had the heart murmur much longer, and I suspect congenital. (I got her when she was 9, and she had the heart murmur then.)

However, other cats succumb quickly. HCM cats are susceptible to throwing blood clots that can completely block an artery.

Thank you so much for your reply. This is exactly the kind of info that I was looking for. I called my main vet, Dr. Lee, and he told me the same thing. I knew that he'd be able to put my mind at ease and, as soon as I get the results of the blood work tomorrow so that I have something to report to him, I'll make an appt. for Specs for an x-ray and one other test that I can't recall the name of at the moment. Then, if Dr. Lee thinks it's necessary, the echocardiogram will be done. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's a 1.

[Grace]

How old is Specs?

My Duffy was diagnosed with a murmur 5 - 6 years ago. He had a cardiac ultrasound, and it was determined that his murmur was totally innocent - just like mine!!

When we took him to the Vet, he got upset, and the murmur surfaced. It requires no treatment, no follow up, no nothing.

I've had a murmur all my life - sometimes they hear it, sometimes they don't. Like Duffy - no treatment is needed.

I wish for you and Specs a repeat of Duffy - a lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

[Medusa]

How old is Specs?

My Duffy was diagnosed with a murmur 5 - 6 years ago. He had a cardiac ultrasound, and it was determined that his murmur was totally innocent - just like mine!!

When we took him to the Vet, he got upset, and the murmur surfaced. It requires no treatment, no follow up, no nothing.

I've had a murmur all my life - sometimes they hear it, sometimes they don't. Like Duffy - no treatment is needed.

I wish for you and Specs a repeat of Duffy - a lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

He's approximately 8 1/2 years old. My vet thought that he was about 2 1/2 years old when I rescued him and I've had him for 6 years now. Thanx for the good thoughts. I appreciate it a lot. I had a heart murmur when I was pregnant and after delivery, the murmur disappeared. So I'm hoping that Specs' murmur is all sound and fury, as you say.

[Catty1]

Let's hope Specs isn't pregnant!

Sounds like he is in really good hands - and the murmur can appear at the vet's an nowhere else. It's like us hoomins having our BP go up when we get our checkups.

Prayers that Specs will check out fine, and that you will too.

PT Prayers for Puddy...does she seem comfy?

{{{{hugs}}}}

[Medusa]

PT Prayers for Puddy...does she seem comfy?

{{{{hugs}}}}

She seems to be. She's eating fine but now she refuses to use her personal water fountain. She insists on drinking only out of the bathroom sink. I was ready to call Dr. Lee because I thought it meant something (what, I have no idea) but she only does it at night. During the day she uses the other water fountain w/no problem. So I made sure hers was clean as a whistle but, for some reason, she wants to use that bathroom faucet. She can no longer jump up on the toilet to the sink; she's too weak, I guess, so she cries until I get out of bed and lift her. Of course, it wouldn't matter if she could get up there on her own anyhow because she can't turn on the faucet. She just doesn't look good, y'know?

[kb2yjx]

Mary, I am hoping for the best for Specs!!! Our Riley(soon to be 8 in August)was diagnosised at ONLY 8 months. He has not had a single symptom since I noticed he had dyspnea(trouble breathing)while he was playing. He has cardiac ultrasounds every other year. He has a Grade III/IV murmur.He has never taken a single pill. Let's hope for the same for your Specs!!! Prayers for you both!!! Sandra