Cat has cardiomyopathy!

jamieliz02

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I just took my 7 year old cat to the vet because she has been acting funny and not wanting to move around or do anything. She tired to stand up this morning and meowed and acted like her hing legs were hurting her so I took her to the vet. She weighs 22 pounds and has always been overweight even though I limit her food. Her temp was normal but her ears were very cold. The doctor said her heart sounded abnomal and suggested cardiomyopathy but said he couldnt diagnose without bloodwork, xrays, etc. which would cost several hundred dollars. I don't want to spend the money to diagnose her if there is no way to treat the condition which he said there isnt much you can do and she will probably just fall down dead one day. Has anyone dealt with this before or have any advice at all???? Thanks!!!
 

angelrn08

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Hello, I would get a second oppinion, because I used to have ferrets and I delt with a cardiomyopathy spell with one of them. It turned out that he didnt have cardiomyopahty (he had juvinile lymphoma and I lost him at 9 mo old) but had he had it there is treatment. Cats can live with is especially if it is mild. It is kind of like a human having congestive heart failure. It is progressive but slow. There are medications such as diuretics, ace inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and medication to lower blood pressure. Although treatment is expensive ...there is treatment.
 

mews2much

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I would get a 2nd opinion. My Friends cat had it and she was 23 when she was pts. There are things you can do to help them live longer. Get a 2nd opinion.
 

white cat lover

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I would get a 2nd opinion from another vet. Yes, the tests are expensive, but they will allow you to know what course to treatment to follow. With treatment you can extent her life/give her quality of life. Just because your vet thinks she might have something without running any tests doesn't mean that is what she has...there may well be something else wrong.
 

blaise

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If you want to go a little further for some answers, here's what I would suggest.

If this happened to me, I would put my questions to a group of people who have lots of experience with cardiomyopathy - you are very fortunate because there is a group of people who have been managing their cats' heart conditions for years, have lots of personal experience and knowledge and who, I'm sure will be able to give you far deeper answers than you will receive in a "general" cat forum such as this.

You can find those people online 24/7/365 at this link. (On the top right, look for the blue box "Join This Group")

AND, when/if you decide to ak them, also ask how you can make life easier for (what, to me is) your dear kitty - whether or not you decide to persue further exploration/treatment. I'm thinking of practical, everyday things which will reduce stress on her heart.

Oh, if she is obese (did the Vet confirm your belief on this?), there is something you can do - which, undoubtedly would also reduce stress on her heart - and that would be to have a read of what this Vet has to say.

If you want a perfect example of what that advice will do, you can have another read...of this thread on TCS.
 

emmylou

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My cat has a form of cardiomyopathy, but he's asymptomatic. In any case, your cat definitely needs the tests so that he can be treated. There are many medications to treat it. Your cat is already showing symptoms, so he needs further testing and treatment urgently.

If your vet really said that there was nothing to be done and the cat would just fall down dead one day, then you need a different vet. Find a veterinary cardiologist; try your local veterinary school if you have trouble finding one.
 
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