Heart Murmur In Cats Symptoms

A cat heart murmur is an irregularity of the heart rhythm caused by abnormal blood flow.

Heart murmur in cats symptoms. In more severe cases heart murmurs can even produce big vibrations that you may be able to feel through your cats. Stunted growth in kittens. 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.

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. 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. The symptoms accompanying the heart murmur should be warning signs that you need.

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. When symptoms arise they may include signs of congestive heart failure increased respiratory rate labored breathing shortness of breath lethargy and appetite loss or changes in daily behavior such as hiding or seclusion.

To diagnose the cause of a heart murmur your vet might recommend tests such as blood tests echocardiograms and chest x-rays. These noises are typically graded from 1 to 4 4 being the most severe. Heart murmurs are caused by turbulent blood flow within the heart.

Causes of Heart Murmurs in Cats. Murmurs can come and go. Watch out for the following clinical signs of heart murmur in cats.

A weight loss visible. Heart murmurs range from being practically inaudible even with a veterinary stethoscope to being very loud. Collapsing spells from an irregular heart rhythm or small.