How to Treat Cardiomyopathy in a Cat
According to Dr. Chick Newman of Newman Veterinary, there are a few types of feline cardiomyopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is one of the most common. Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHCM) is a condition that occurs when a heart becomes diseased, due to a bulking of the heart's ventricle muscles. There are a few causes of this uncomfortable disease, including high blood pressure and hyperthyroidism. Treatment for feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is typically symptomatic, which means you treat the symptoms the cat is displaying.
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Instructions
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Treat the cat's hyperthyroidism, if that is what is causing the FHCM. According to Dr. Scott Alan McKay of Doctors Foster and Smith, the cat's veterinarian can perform blood tests to check for an overactive thyroid if it is suspected of having FHCM. If the test is positive, the doctor can administer medication to return the thyroid hormones to their normal levels. Often times, the heart condition is resolved once the hyperthyroidism is under control.
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Alleviate any fluid in the cat's lungs or chest. Cats with FHCM often develop fluid in their lungs---called pulmonary edema---and free fluid in the chest---called pleural effusion. According to Dr. Newman, the veterinarian can administer a diuretic, such as furosemide, to help remove the excess fluid in the cat.
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Administer medication to the cat to improve its blood pressure and slow the heart rate. Medication that can achieve these results are beta blockers---such as pronanolol and atenolol---and calcium channel blockers.
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Tips & Warnings
The cat's prognosis depends on how severe the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is. Hyperthyroidism-induced FHCM has the best prognosis and has the potential to become reversed if treated. However, this type of FHCM is the only kind that can be treated and cured---all others are only managed.
References
- Photo Credit group of cats image by jonnysek from Fotolia.com
