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

[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

[carole]

Mary you have posted in my threads lately giving me advice and support so i wanted to try and do the same for you, as you know Ash has a heart murmur and early renal failure, he had the murmur about two years ago, and it is mild, no treatment was advised at this stage,and until the recent diagnosis he was not receiving any medication, but is now on fortekor, which is for cardiomyopathy (not sure i spelled that right) and his renal failure, it might be an option for your kitty too, however if it is only mild, probably the vet will advise no treatment.

The vet also told me sometimes kitties get so worked up at the visit that it appears they have a murmur and they really don't at all, i was hoping that was the case for Ash, but sadly not.

I am sorry to hear you are having so many health issues personally and with the kitties, i know how that feels for sure, it is very stressful and i can only wish you the best for all your concerns, HUGS.

[Moesha]

I do hope that your dear Specs can manage with the heart murmur quite well. I have 2 kitties with heart murmurs, Higgins and Juliet. Both are a 1. I almost broke down when the vet told me that Higgins had a heart murmur. It was just a couple months after my Simone had to be put to sleep because of congestive heart failure. That was such a difficult time, and then to hear that Higgins had heart trouble too was almost too much. The vet reassured me that his murmur wasn't as serious as Simone's condition. In fact, since both kitties' murmurs are only a 1, they don't have to have any special treatment for them. Please keep us updated about Specs' condition.

[Felicia's Mom]

I'm sorry that Specs has a heart murmur. Sending prayers and vibes his way.

[Catlady711]

Dusty had a heart murmer that was diagnosed in 1997 at 7 years of age, at that time the vet felt that she may have been born with the condition. Dusty required no meds for it, or had any health problems because of it until 2006 at almost 16 years of age. I had her for 12 years and of those 12 only the last year did her murmer cause any type of problems for her.

On a side note I have an uncle in his late 60's who has had a heart murmer since birth. He takes no meds for it, and is a very active person, including many sports when he was a bit younger.

I hope your vet does whatever tests are necessary and finds that your Specs heart murmer is one of those that are not serious or require meds for.

[Medusa]

Dusty had a heart murmer that was diagnosed in 1997 at 7 years of age, at that time the vet felt that she may have been born with the condition. Dusty required no meds for it, or had any health problems because of it until 2006 at almost 16 years of age. I had her for 12 years and of those 12 only the last year did her murmer cause any type of problems for her.

On a side note I have an uncle in his late 60's who has had a heart murmer since birth. He takes no meds for it, and is a very active person, including many sports when he was a bit younger.

I hope your vet does whatever tests are necessary and finds that your Specs heart murmer is one of those that are not serious or require meds for.

Thank you for posting this. It's the kind of story that I like to hear. I have total faith in my vet, believe me. Dr. Lee leaves no stone unturned and he's very aggressive w/treatment and I can discuss anything w/him. Specs' blood work came in today and all is normal. So I will call Dr. Lee tomorrow to make an appt. for the appropriate tests and will let everyone know the results as soon as I know them.

[mamaducky]

Mary, I'll add my two cents to the "me, too!" list. I have a heart murmur (with the fairly ominous-sounding name of "aortic insufficiency"), and as a result of that I have to do the following things differently in my life:

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

I can imagine how freaked out you are by Specs' diagnosis, but it sounds as though you have a fabulous vet -- and as you're seeing here in this thread, a heart murmur, more often than not, is usually not as scary as it sounds.

((((((HUGS)))))) to you and Specs!

Diana

[kittykatharine]

Mary,

I wish I had more information for you but, I have had friends that had cats with heart murmurs and they needed no treatment and lived normal lives. These kitties where thought to have had these heart defects from birth. I would keep up the hope and I would not worry yourself until you know what's going on. My thoughts and prayers are going to you, Specs, and Puddy. Make sure you take care of yourself and not let yourself stress out too much, this can effect your own health. Just being there for you babies lets them know that they are loved and cared for. Big PT hugs to your babies from me, and my whole kitty gang. Please keep us updated!

[Emeraldgreen]

I hope that further tests will reveal that Specs murmur is of a mild nature and that he will go on to live a long happy life!! Prayers going out to you and Specs.
I'm sorry to hear that Puddy may not be doing so well this past little while. It's so hard to go through this and I pray that she has just hit a temporary 'bad spot' and will be back to her old self again. And if her time is nearing, then I pray that you have many many days to spend time with and cuddle her. Prayers for beautiful Puddy too!!