Heart Failure in Cats
Heart failure is a medical term used to describe a syndrome in which severe heart dysfunction leads to failure of the heart's ability to maintain blood circulation. Not a specific disease or diagnosis, heart failure has several potential causes, and different symptoms may present with each condition.
Our board-certified veterinary cardiologists in Thousand Oaks are trained to diagnose and treat cardiovascular (heart and vessels) disease in your pet.
Types of Heart Failure
Heart failure has four functional classifications, all of which need special treatment from a cardiology team.
Pressure Overload
Pressure overload causes long-term increases in stress on the heart's wall during contraction. This causes thickening of the wall of the ventricle that's impacted. Pressure overload can be caused by blood flow from the heart becoming obstructed (such as pulmonic or aortic stenosis) or increased blood pressure throughout the body or in the lung's arteries.
Volume Overload
Heart failure due to volume overload occurs as a result of any disease that increases blood volume in the ventricle(s), thus increasing blood flow. This can eventually bring on signs of congestive heart failiure through the enlargement of the chamber in the affected ventricle.
Several diseases can cause volume overload, includnig anemia, degenerative valve disease or hyperthyroidism.
Systolic Myocardial Failure
Systolic myocardial failure is a reduction in the heart muscle's ability to contract. If the reduction is significant enough, your cat's heart will not be able to maintain normal blood flow. This type of heart failure can be caused by numerous factors including genetics, trauma, infection, poisons, heatstroke, tumors, or a taurine deficiency in your cat's diet.
Systolic myocardial failure can be identified with an echocardiograph.
Impedance to Cardiac Inflow
This type of heart failure is caused by an obstruction to blood flow into the heart that results in the heart not getting enough blood.
This can be caused by abnormalities in the physical structures of the heart, a condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or external compression of the heart, for example from fluid building up in the sac around the heart and creating too much pressure.
Symptoms of Heart Failure in Cats
The symptoms of heart failure depend on what is causing the heart failure and what part of the heart is affected. Some of the more common signs include:
- Coughing (although cats with heart failure are less likely to cough than dogs with a similar condition)
- Increased breathing rate
- Loss of appetite
- Reluctance to play or exercise
- Abnormally cold paws and ears
- Bloated or swollen abdomen (caused by excess fluid build-up)
- Sudden collapse
- Lethargy
Treatment of Heart Failure in Cats
The type of treatment recommended for your cat will depend on their specific underlying condition. Various treatments for heart failure may aim to improve muscle performance, control blood pressure, improve blood flow, or reduce the amount of blood filling the heart before contraction. It may also be necessary to drain any fluid that has built up in the lungs, abdomen, or chest cavity.
There is a range of drugs available for treating heart failure. The specific drugs, dosage, and frequency used will vary depending on the causes and severity of the heart failure and other factors. Your veterinarian is best able to decide on the appropriate medications for your cat.
In addition to drugs, your vet may recommend lifestyle changes such as changing your cat to a low-sodium diet or supplementing their diet with taurine supplements. Oxygen therapy or surgery may also be suggested by your veterinarian.
The prognosis of heart failure in cats varies widely based on the type of heart failure and how early it is detected. It is important to take your cat for regular vet visits so any underlying conditions can be detected and treated as early as possible.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.