How to Recognize the Effects of Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is a chronic disease of the heart which can lay dormant for months or years and strike suddenly in traumatic episodes which can waylay your cat in the most unexpected ways. Understanding the signs of Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy may enable you to better deal with what may happen to your cat. As with any acute disease or trauma, seek immediate medical attention from a veterinarian.
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Instructions
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Listen to your cat. Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy usually results in a blood clot being sent down the main arteries (a "thrombosis"). This is very painful, and your cat may yowl loudly in pain as well as thrash around. It is important to remain calm and to try to comfort your cat; panic and raised voices will only make your cat more frightened and will cause him additional, unnecessary pain.
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Feel your cat. If your cat cannot move one or both of her back legs, feel the legs; if they are cold, there is not enough blood getting to them to keep them warm. Sometimes owners mistake this for a spinal cord injury, but in such cases, there is usually adequate blood flow, which allows the legs to remain warm.
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Listen to your cat's breathing. If it is "rattling" or sounds "raspy," your cat may have a blood clot in his lungs (an "embolism") which is interfering with his breathing. An embolism can occur alone or in conjunction with other symptoms, such as the paralysis described above.
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Check your cat's eyes. If your cat's eyes are not reactive to light or do not follow movement, it is possible a clot was sent to the brain, resulting in a stroke. In this case, blood is cut off to the brain, resulting in brain damage or death.
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Rush your cat to an emergency veterinary clinic. Not all thromboses, embolisms or strokes are fatal. In some cases, blood-thinning agents and anticoagulants can break up the clot, allowing the cat to recover. Sometimes, however, the larger clots break up into smaller clots, which affect the other organs of the cat's body, resulting in multiple manifestations and a relapse. In severe cases, veterinarians may suggest euthanasia as the only option to relieve the cat's suffering.
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Tips & Warnings
Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is difficult to detect, even by experienced veterinarians, but if a heart murmur is detected, insist on other diagnostics, such as an echocardiogram, to check for an underlying heart condition. Preventative measures may help your cat enjoy a longer life.
Symptoms are generally sudden and usually fatal.
