Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

 

Hypertrophic Cardiopmyopathy  means disease of the heart muscle.

 (Cardio - heart & myopathy - muscle)

 

 

 

It is a disease which is found in many cat breeds including Sphynx. The cat's heart is a muscular pump with four separate chambers. The right side of the heart sends blood to the lungs where it picks up oxygen. The left side receives blood from the lungs and pumps it around the rest of the body. HCM  cause the  heart muscle  to thicken which  impairs  it's flexibility, causing the heart to work faster which in turn leads to the enlargement of the heart chambers and fluid round the heart.  HCM can be diagnosed by ultrasound scanning. There is no genetic test for HCM, and until the genetics in cats are fully understood it will be almost impossible to element the disease.  Research continues into the cause. There are very rarely any visible sign. Cats are usually good at concealing ill health and often there are no evidence of any problems until the condition is very advanced.

In many cases until the cat develops signs of acute heart failure, which includes rapid, shallow breathing, open mouth breathing, vomiting & weakness. Blood clots may develop in the heart and travel down the aorta to block the circulation to the hind legs, causing pain and weakness. 

Diagnosis

Physical Exam - Irregular heart rhythm, or unusually fast indicates a need for investigation

Radiographs - Chest  X-rays of symptomatic cats that may appear normal or have a mild enlargement of the heart. Cats with clinical signs of HCM there maybe a greater enlargement of the heart as well as fluid build up  in the lungs and chest cavity.

Echocardiography  - This is the diagnostic tool which is best suited to monitor HCM.  It is a painless procedure using sound waves to give  a 3-dimensional picture of the heart in motion. A valuation of the thickness of the heart walls and the strength of each contraction of the heart muscle. The heart valves can be evaluated and look for evidence of blood clots formation within the heart chambers that could lead in circulation blockage.

Treatment - The decision of whether and how to treat a cat with HCM depends on the cat's clinical signs and the results of a complete diagnostic  test. Very early or mild cases may not require treatment, just close monitoring. More serve cases and pronounced changes in the heart will need medical intervention. Such as Beta-adrenergic receptor blockers etc.......

The best advice and the way forward is to not to breed from known HCM positive cats  and to test existing progeny on a yearly basics. 

Hypertrophic_Cardiomyopathy_Dia.jpg (73218 bytes)
More in depth information can be found by linking onto the following sites:
and of course your Veterinary will be able to answer any questions you may wish to ask.

 

F.A.B Registered Veterinary. uk/Belgium

Veterinary surgeon

Address

Phone
number

Mr A Boswood MA VetMB DVC DECVIM-CA(Cardiology) MRCVS

Queen Mother Hospital, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mimms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA

01707 666366

Dr S Brownlie BVM&S PhD CertSAC MRCVS

Kileekie, Crosshill, Maybole, Ayrshire, KA19 7PY

01655 740236

Mr D D Clarke MA VetMB DVR CertSAC MRCVS

Mill House Veterinary Surgery, 20 Tennyson Avenue, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 2QG

01553 771457

Dr D Connolly BSc BVetMed PhD CertSAM CertVC DECVIM-CA(Cardiology) MRCVS

Department Veterinary Clinical Science, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA

01707 666366
(fax 01707 666 369)

Mr C Devine BVSc DVC MRCVS
 
Borders Veterinary Cardiology Services
Smithy Cottage, Skirling, Peebleshire, ML12 6HD
01899 221321
(fax: 01899 221321)

Dr J Dukes McEwan BVMS MVM PhD DVC DECVIM-CA(Cardiology) MRCVS

Small Animal Hospital, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L7 7EX

0151 7944290

Dr Luca Ferasin DVM, PhD, CertVC, DipECVIM-CA (Cardiology) MRCVS
European Specialist in Veterinary Cardiology
 

Specialist Veterinary Cardiology Consultancy

20 Old Bath Road, Newbury, Berkshire  RG14 1QL
http://www.cardiospecialist.co.uk/
 

07773 585428

(fax:  01635 529826)

Ms A French MVB DVC CertSAM DECVIM-CA(Cardiology) MRCVS

Small Animal Hospital, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG

0131 6507650

Mr M E Herrtage MA BVSc DVR DVD DSAM DECVIM-CA DECVDI MRCVS

Dept. of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ES

01223 337621

Ms V Ironside MA VetMB CertVC MRCVS

The Gables, Cressbrook, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 8SX

07970 103789

Dr C Little BVMS PhD, DVC, MRCVS, Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Cardiology

The Barton Veterinary Hospital, 34 New Dover Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 3DT

01227 765522

Dr V Luis Fuentes MA VetMB PhD CertVR DVC,DACVIM (Cardiology) DECVIM-CA (Cardiology) MRCVS RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Cardiology

Queen Mother Hospital, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mimms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA

01707 662255

Mr M W S Martin MVB DVC MRCVS

Martin Referral Service 43 Waverley Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1JL

01926 863445

Mr M R Oakley BVM&S BSc CertSAC MRCVS

Kynoch & Partners, Pinegrove Vet Centre, 51 Dukes Ride, Crowthorne, Berkshire, RG45 6NE

01344 774314

Dr M W Patteson MA VetMB PhD DVC CertVR MRCVS

Vale Veterinary Group, The Animal Hospital, Stinchcombe, Dursley, Gloucestershire, GL11 6AJ

01453 542092

Mrs S Roberts BVMS CertVC MRCVS Torrington Orthopaedics, IES House, Mission Street, Brighouse, West Yorkshire HD6 1NQ
 
07850 740356

Mr P Smith BVetMed DVC MRCVS

East Anglia Cardiology Ltd

The Bakers Cottage

Church Street

Buntingford, Hertfordshire  SG9 9AS

07818 405535

(Fax: 01223 773081)

Ms S Smith MA VetMB CertVC MRCVS Scarsdale Veterinary Hospital, 45-47 Kedleston Road, Derby, Derbyshire, DE22 1FN 01332 345191

Mr M Stafford Johnson MVB Cert SAM MACVSc DVC MRCVS

Martin Referral Service 43 Waverley Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1JL

01926 863445

Ms N Summerfield BSc BVM& S DACVIM (Cardiology) MRCVS

Grove Lodge Veterinary Hospital , 18 Upper Brighton Rd, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 9DL

01903 234866

Mr S Swift MA VetMB CertSAC MRCVS

University of Liverpool Small Animal Hospital, Crown Street, Liverpool, L7 7EX

0151 79442900

Miss N Van Israel DVM CESOpht CertSAM CertVC DECVIM-CA (Cardiology) MSc MRCVS

Acapulco, Animal Cardiopulmonary Consultancy,

Masta 11 BE-4970 Masta, BELGIUM

00 32 (0) 80 517 451

(Fax +32 (0) 80 511751)

Ms R Willis BVM& S DVC MRCVS

Broadleys Veterinary Hospital, Craig Leith Road, Stirling, FK7 7LE

01786 445665

Dr P Wotton BVSc PhD DVC MRCVS

Davies Veterinary Specialists, Manor Farm Business Park, Higham Gobion, Hertfordshire, SG5 3HR

01582 883950

 

 

 
 
 
 

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