Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Abstract
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common cardiac disease in the cat. A recent study showed that in a cardiology referral centre, 46% of cats with heart disease showed no clinical signs of heart failure, which highlights how difficult it can be for veterinary nurses to recognize a cat with severe heart disease. Stress should be avoided at all costs because it acutely increases the body's metabolic demands, and patients with heart failure do not have sufficient cardiac reserve to accommodate such an increase in demand. Cats therefore should always be handled in a calm and competent manner. If a cat presents to the veterinary practice in respiratory distress, first line treatment should include oxygen therapy, diuresis and minimal handling.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common cardiac disease in the cat (Ferasin et al, 2003). Generally speaking, it tends to be diagnosed in the middle age to older cat, but can be present in both very young and very old cats (Atkins et al, 1992; Rush et al, 2002; Ferasin et al, 2003; Payne et al, 2010). Clinical signs range from the asymptomatic cat with a heart murmur detected at Atkins et al, 1992; Rush et al, 2002; Ferasin et al, 2003; Payne et al, 2010). Cats seem to be incredibly good at hiding any signs of heart failure, therefore, when they do present with signs of distress, they must be dealt with using extreme care. The severity of the disease, which is exacerbated by stress, at this point can be life threatening.
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