Maladie Cardiaque Féline
La maladie cardiaque est l'une des conditions les plus courantes chez les chats.
Heart disease affects an estimated 1 in 6 cats, making it one of the most common feline health conditions. The most common type is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), where the heart walls thicken and can't pump properly. Many cats show no signs until the disease is advanced, which is why regular checkups are so important.
Points Clés
- 1 in 6 cats has some form of heart disease
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common type
- Cats are masters at hiding heart disease until it's advanced
- A heart murmur detected by your vet may be the first clue
- Early detection through screening can extend your cat's life
- New treatments are improving outcomes for HCM
Understanding HCM
In HCM, the heart muscle (especially the left ventricle) becomes abnormally thick. This makes the heart chamber smaller and stiffer, so it can't fill with blood properly. Over time, this leads to heart failure — fluid accumulates in the lungs (causing breathing difficulty) or around the lungs. HCM can also cause blood clots that block blood flow to the hind legs (saddle thrombus), which is extremely painful.
Signs to Watch For
The challenging thing about feline heart disease is that many cats show NO signs until the disease is severe. When signs do appear: rapid or labored breathing, open-mouth breathing (always abnormal in cats), lethargy, loss of appetite, hiding, and sudden lameness or paralysis of the hind legs (saddle thrombus — an emergency). Counting your cat's sleeping respiratory rate (should be under 30 breaths per minute) is a useful monitoring tool.
Diagnosis
A heart murmur detected during a physical exam is often the first clue, though not all murmurs indicate serious disease. Definitive diagnosis requires an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). Blood tests (NT-proBNP) can help screen for heart disease. Regular cardiac screening is recommended for breeds prone to HCM (Maine Coons, Ragdolls, British Shorthairs, Sphynx).
Treatment and Management
While HCM can't be cured, it can be managed. Treatment depends on severity: medications to reduce fluid buildup (diuretics), drugs to slow the heart rate (atenolol, diltiazem), and newer treatments like rapamycin which may slow disease progression. Cats with heart failure need ongoing monitoring and medication adjustments. Keeping your cat calm and stress-free is important.
Quand Aller chez le Vétérinaire
- Your cat's breathing rate is over 30 breaths per minute while sleeping
- Open-mouth breathing or panting
- Lethargy or hiding more than usual
- Sudden lameness or paralysis of the hind legs
- Loss of appetite
- Your vet detected a heart murmur
Comment le Centre Royal Peut Aider
RVC offers cardiac screening including echocardiography and NT-proBNP blood testing. We manage feline heart disease with the latest treatments including rapamycin. Call +853 6677 6611.
Cet article est à titre éducatif uniquement. Contactez le Centre Royal au +853 6677 6611.