Heart complaints with cats

Heart complaints include all complaints which damage the structure and function of the heart. It is a complaint which is often found with dogs. With cats it occurs if a cat deals with much overweight, it also occurs more with male cats.
The two most important forms of heart complaints are the chronic complaint of the heart valves and a heart muscle tissue complaint. In the first case a leaking heart valve reduces the heart’s efficiency at pumping the blood (this is the most occurring heart complaint with dogs).

In case of heart muscle tissue complaints changes in the heart muscle lead to less effective pumping of the heart.

In the black circle
on top of the figure, you will see the mitral valve (the most important spot with dogs). This valve doesn’t close itself during heartbeat. It opens and closes. If it should be closed (which doesn’t happen) the blood leaks through it. The pump function functions bad. You can find further information concerning this in each book about people with heart complaints.  
 
Heart muscle tissue complaints are the most occurring heart complaints with cats (black circle on bottom of the figure). Heart complaints develop themselves in heart failure if the heart is not capable to pump enough blood in order to supply the body tissues with enough oxygen and nutrients.

Important
The first symptoms of heart complaints aren’t patently obvious, but they become clearer if the disease proceeds. If you doubt, please consult your veterinarian.
There are different symptoms which might develop themselves with animals with a heart complaint:
•  Listlessness and few strength
•  Faint and collapse
•  Not being able to move well
•  Breathing problems, for example squeaking fast
•  Repeatedly coughing
•  Swollen stomach
•  Reduced appetite
•  Weight loss
•  Partial inflammation of the hind legs
Of course you can check the heart beat yourself and feel if it is regular (feeling doesn’t mean pressing hard). If it is irregular or you don’t trust it, have your veterinarian check it. If he/she suspects a heart defect, he/she can advise you to have your cat examined by means of:

Radiography:
X-rays can indicate changes in size and shape and in the heart position and also show possible accumulations of fluid in the chest cavity.

Electrocardiography: (ECG)
This technique registers electrical force of the current created by the heart in order to determine the rhythm and in order to give further information concerning the heart.

Echogram:
This technique uses ultrasound in order to register the position and structures in the heart and to indicate a malformation for example in the heart valves.

Blood pressure measurements:
This isn’t as easy as with human beings, but there are instruments which simplify this with dogs and cats.