Heart Murmur In Cats Symptoms

Your vet will be able to hear whether you cat has a murmur using their stethoscope.

Heart murmur in cats symptoms. Although some cases of heart murmur in cats are not serious it is would be safer to err on the side of caution. Not all heart murmurs indicate a problem. The most common symptoms that are observed with a cat that has a clinically significant heart murmur are poor appetite weight loss or stunted growth in a kitten breathing problems pale gums lethargy or weakness.

Also since the intensity of the heart murmur can be difficult to detect we need to look out for the following symptoms to point to a possible cardiac problem. However the clinical signs may be subtle and not noticeable until the disease becomes advanced. Some other extracardiac heart murmurs are secondary or caused by changes in the heart that occur because of some other disease - in cats the most common cause of a secondary heart murmur is hyperthyroidism see handout Hyperthyroidism in Cats which causes a form of cardiomyopathy called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Of breathing difficulties shortness of breath wheezing. Symptoms of a heart murmur can vary widely depending on several characteristics. Watch out for the following clinical signs of heart murmur in cats.

This type of disturbed flow can be the result of structural problems within the heart ie heart disease or an extracardiac problem not associated with heart disease. They can be heard when a cat is stressed and the heart rate has increased. These noises are typically graded from 1 to 4 4 being the most severe.

The heart murmur is only audible with a stethoscope and is therefore very difficult for the cat owner to detect. A weight loss visible. Fast shallow noisy or heavy breathing.

However there are a few clinical signs to lookout for. I also suspect heart disease anytime I hear a heart murmur during a physical examination. Common Questions and Answers about Heart murmur in cats symptoms.