Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Cats

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Cats

By: PetPlace Veterinarians

Section: Overview

Veterinary Care

Veterinary care should include diagnostic tests to determine the underlying cause and help guide subsequent treatment recommendations.

Diagnosis

Diagnostic tests are needed to recognize HCM, and exclude other diseases, including:

  • Complete medical history and physical examination, including observation of the heart and lungs using a stethoscope

  • Chest X-rays

  • Echocardiogram (ultrasound exam of the heart) -a painless procedure in which a probe is held against the chest after clipping the hair for initial diagnosis and confirmation.

  • Electrocardiogram (EKG) -a tracing representing the heart's electrical action derived by amplification of the minutely small electrical impulses normally generated by the heart.

  • Blood tests to evaluate your cat and/or to monitor treatment.


    Treatment

    There is no recommended treatment for very mild cases with no symptoms, but regular follow-up visits to your vet are vital. There may be an initial hospital admission and possible stay for severe cases. Severe cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are life-threatening.

    Home Care

    Give medications as directed and regularly observe your cat's relaxed breathing rate. Learn to take the heart rate, record results and relay this information to your veterinarian regularly.

    Minimize stressful situations. Many cats may be best kept as indoor only pets.

    Preventive Care

    This disease is thought to be genetic; therefore, there is no preventative care. Cats affected with this condition should not be bred.

    •  
    Printable Version
     
    Have a Pet Question?
    Review the Most Frequent Questions
    Answered by Dr. Jon and His Staff of Veterinarians
    Ask Dr. Jon
    Dr. Jon's Newsletter
    Yes! Send Me the Latest Health Information, Pet Tips, Pet Stories and more...
     
     

    Related Articles

    • 1 Atrial Fibrillation in Cats

      In atrial fibrillation the normally coordinated electrical activity in the upper heart chambers, the right atrium and left atrium, is lost. The muscle of these chambers begins to wiggle like a "bag full...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2 Congestive Heart Failure in Cats

      Heart failure is a condition, caused by an abnormality in the structure or the function of the heart, in which it is unable to pump normal quantities of blood to the tissues of the body.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 3 Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Cats (DCM)

      Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a myocardial disease, which is disease of the heart muscle that is characterized by dilation (enlargement) of the cardiac chambers and markedly reduced muscle contraction....

      Read MoreRead More
    • 4 Hypertension in Cats

      Elevated blood pressure is an increase in the systolic or diastolic arterial blood pressure (ABP). A systolic ABP should not exceed 170 to 180 mm Hg and diastolic should not exceed the 100 to 110 mm Hg...

      Read MoreRead More
    Related Articles
    • 1Atrial Fibrillation in Cats

      In atrial fibrillation the normally coordinated electrical activity in the upper heart chambers, the right atrium and left atrium, is lost. The muscle of these chambers begins to wiggle like a "bag full...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2Congestive Heart Failure in Cats

      Heart failure is a condition, caused by an abnormality in the structure or the function of the heart, in which it is unable to pump normal quantities of blood to the tissues of the body.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 3Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Cats (DCM)

      Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a myocardial disease, which is disease of the heart muscle that is characterized by dilation (enlargement) of the cardiac chambers and markedly reduced muscle contraction....

      Read MoreRead More
    • 4Hypertension in Cats

      Elevated blood pressure is an increase in the systolic or diastolic arterial blood pressure (ABP). A systolic ABP should not exceed 170 to 180 mm Hg and diastolic should not exceed the 100 to 110 mm Hg...

      Read MoreRead More
     

    Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

    Dogs & Puppies
    Cats
    Related Articles
    • 1Atrial Fibrillation in Cats

      In atrial fibrillation the normally coordinated electrical activity in the upper heart chambers, the right atrium and left atrium, is lost. The muscle of these chambers begins to wiggle like a "bag full...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2Congestive Heart Failure in Cats

      Heart failure is a condition, caused by an abnormality in the structure or the function of the heart, in which it is unable to pump normal quantities of blood to the tissues of the body.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 3Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Cats (DCM)

      Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a myocardial disease, which is disease of the heart muscle that is characterized by dilation (enlargement) of the cardiac chambers and markedly reduced muscle contraction....

      Read MoreRead More
    • 4Hypertension in Cats

      Elevated blood pressure is an increase in the systolic or diastolic arterial blood pressure (ABP). A systolic ABP should not exceed 170 to 180 mm Hg and diastolic should not exceed the 100 to 110 mm Hg...

      Read MoreRead More