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

[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

[krazyaboutkatz]

Mary, I'm sorry to hear this. Hopefully Specs has only a very mild one and won't require any medication for it. I'll keep him in my thoughts and prayers.

I recently learned that both Sunny and Sky have heart murmurs. Sunny will be 8 in late August and Sky just turned 6 in June. Sunny had his annual exam in April and was fine. He was later having some behavioral issues so I brought him to my holistic vet and she noticed that he had a heart murmur. He's now on a calming herbal pill which is also good for his heart. She checked him out again and said that it's very slight and that he has a very strong heart so
both my regular vet and she don't think that I need to do anything more at this time.

When Sky had his annual exam in June,my regular vet noticed that he had a
slight heart murmur and he had been seeing my holistic vet several times and she never noticed one. He then had another appointment with my holistic vet and she also noticed that he had one but it's also very minor so at this time I don't have to anything more about it.

Many years ago one of my doctor's noticed that I had a slight heart murmur and she did some tests but everything was normal. Since then no other doctor has ever detected a heart murmur on me. My dad has one and all he has to do is to be sure to take some pills before and after he goes to the dentist.

[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!

[Medusa]

Thanx, everyone. I had my local vet fax Specs' blood work results to Dr. Lee and I'll call to book his appt. tomorrow. I didn't do it today because I had my own medical tests to endure and I've been feeling kinda punk ever since. I'll know the results tomorrow or Friday. Thank goodness I don't have to wait during the weekend. Puddy is behaving very strangely, too, and it has me worried. She's been sleeping w/me ever since her kidney removal and last night she decided that she wanted to sleep downstairs w/the rest of the Fur Posse. Normally that shouldn't bother me but seeing that she hasn't been herself, I'm worried. She's downstairs w/them now, too, and she's wanted to be alone all day. She's eating and drinking and using the litter box just fine except today, after I gave her the subQ treatment, she didn't even try to make it to the litter box but peed in the dining room. If she hasn't improved by tomorrow, I'll call Dr. Lee. I'm just overwhelmed right now w/my medical problems, then Specs and, of course, always Puddy because she's been in CRF for so long and it seems her time is slipping away. Please keep the prayers coming. I sure could use 'em and my Fur Posse can, too.

[Medusa]

My Speckers is due for his chest x-ray next Monday, August 11 and if it doesn't reveal anything, an ultrasound will be done while we're there. Oughta be a fun day. I'll be taking Boo and Coco Puff in at the same time for their checkups. Gonna have quite the concert to and fro. At least it's at my local vet who is only 10 minutes away. If the tests show any problems whatsoever w/Specs, though, he'll go to Dr. Lee pronto. Specs actually let me snap a pic of him the other day, so here he is w/his deer-in-the-headlights look. LOL Can't see his eyes too well but you can see the white rim around them, which is why I named him Specs; he looks like he's wearing spectacles.

[kittykatharine]

Mary, Specs is a beauty! He looks just like my friends cats. I wanted to wish you all the luck and prayers for your visit on Aug 11. I am hoping the best for you and your babies. Your are right about that being quite the day - you will definitley have your hands full with all those babies and check-ups, etc. Good luck and make sure you keep us updated!

[Medusa]

My local vet just called and wants me to drop Specs off rather than bring him in w/Coco Puff and Boo. I just can't do it; I'm too far behind on my work to keep running back and forth. Honestly, do they think I can just keep taking off work? She said that it's going to take too long otherwise. C'mon, a chest x-ray takes seconds. I think I'll just take him in to Dr. Lee when I take Puddy for her blood work on the 18th.

[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!!