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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.
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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