The four "silent" killers in cats.

4.Cardiac disease

Heart disease is very frustrating for cat owners and veterinarians. This is because dogs almost always have a high heart rate (ie we can hear it with our stethoscope) that suggests heart disease, but cats often have no heart muscle. In fact, it is estimated that 50% of cats with heart disease do not have a stable heart rhythm. Clinical signs of heart disease include:

• A heart murmur
• An abnormal heart rhythm (for example, an abnormal beat and rhythm)
• A racing heartbeat
• Collapse
• Open mouth breathing
• Cold and painful hind limbs
• Sudden pain
• Sudden death
• Sudden lameness

When diagnosing heart disease (usually based on physical exams, breast X-ray, Cardiopet and echocardiogram), treatment may include emergency treatment for oxygen therapy, diuretics, a treatment for high blood pressure and medicines for the heart. The long-term prognosis is bad because heart medications do not cure heart disease. It prevents heart disease from getting worse. The exception is heart disease caused by hyperthyroidism, which often improves when hyperthyroidism is treated!

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