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Heart Murmur question

post #1 of 20
4/5/11 at 2:06pm
Thread Starter 
Hi - My six year old beautiful boy, Finny just got diagnosed with a Stage 2 Heart murmur. The vet said it was not obvious at all but as he is a Maine Coon he looked for it. Ironically I didn't buy a Maine Coon I just got a rescue kitty and now I ended up with the sweetest boy in the world who gets hereditary disease.

I have an appt with the cardiologist on Monday - but does anyone have any encouragement or good stories of how their cat lived a long time after being diagnosed with heart murmur?

I could use some encouragement because right now I just keep tearing up.

Thanks in advance for your input.
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post #2 of 20
4/5/11 at 2:21pm
I know exactly how you feel. My Patch has a heart murmur, he is 7 years old. It was detected 4 years ago when he had to get an operation for his bladder problems. I give him Atenonol twice a day and 1/4 low dose aspirin every third day. He does fine on it. He is not well at the moment but its not because of his heart, its his bladder again. Of course when he's facing surgery as he is tomorrow morning, they have to be extra watchful with his heart but Patch was getting along well enough with his murmur.

Good Luck and Prayers for Finny.
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post #3 of 20
4/5/11 at 2:26pm
Calvin&I has a kitty, Hobbes, who's going to the cardiologist tomorrow. He appears to have a grade 3? or 4? heart murmur. When they first found out he had one, it's in this thread, and some people with experience with it provided information: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=227337

It's quite treatable.
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post #4 of 20
4/5/11 at 4:42pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks the vet was the best he told me it is treatable. I just can't believe my beautiful spirit high energy boy has anything wrong. He is so full of lover energy and mischievousness.

My prayers are with Hobbes and Patch - geeze they are all so young but we are lucky to have them.
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post #5 of 20
4/5/11 at 5:48pm
I have two with a low grade murmur, both are fine. neither one has to be on medication and anesthesia is also safe for them. Hopefully the murmur will not mean bad news for your baby.
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post #6 of 20
4/5/11 at 5:51pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks Violet you made me smile - thanks!
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post #7 of 20
4/5/11 at 9:07pm
I also have/had two cats with heart murmurs.

My RB cat Sphinx had a grade 3 and was doing well with it (He passed from cancer not the murmur at 18 years).

My other cat - Luvbug - will be 11 this year and was just diagnosed with a grade 2 in December of 2010. He's also one of my two sweetest current cats and a real lover. He also has asthma so we have to be real careful with his asthma meds. Hope he'll be here for a while.

Hopefully Finny will have a long time with you.
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post #8 of 20
4/5/11 at 9:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by greycat2 View Post
I also have/had two cats with heart murmurs.

My RB cat Sphinx had a grade 3 and was doing well with it (He passed from cancer not the murmur at 18 years).

My other cat - Luvbug - will be 11 this year and was just diagnosed with a grade 2 in December of 2010. He's also one of my two sweetest current cats and a real lover. He also has asthma so we have to be real careful with his asthma meds. Hope he'll be here for a while.

Hopefully Finny will have a long time with you.
Hi greycat2! Would really appreciate if you can share your story with me (even if through PM). My kitty, Hobbes, (8 months old) has a murmur and we take him to a cardiologist tomorrow (technically today). He also has asthma and the vet will only treat him after we know more from the cardiologist. Does Luvbug has murmurs due to HCM or a congenital valve issue (which needs no treatment)? Would appreciate you sharing any information, especially how you are keeping track of his asthma.

DarciFinn: I hope Finny has no serious issues that need to be treated actively. I will keep you informed after our vet appointment tomorrow. From what I understand, kitties do live a healthy long life with adequate care. for Finny
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post #9 of 20
4/6/11 at 2:41am
My Jack was diagnosed having a very faint murmur a couple of years ago, but it was so faint the vet said it wasn't that bad to grade it, but if he had to it would be a grade 1.

He gets it checked every year, and just had it done today with no change, so l hope your baby is the same
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post #10 of 20
4/6/11 at 6:34am
My littermates, Peter and Claire, both have grade II murmurs, which in both of their cases turned out to be a symptom of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (gradual thickening of the walls of the heart) - confirmed through cardiac ultrasounds. They're both on a low dosage of atenolol daily and 1/2 of a baby a twice a week. There's no cure for the disease, but if caught early it's very manageable. Pete and Claire are going on 7 years old and are both healthy otherwise.

Sending many vibes for your sweet boy.
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post #11 of 20
4/6/11 at 7:07am
Thread Starter 
Thanks Elicon! It looks like he get to be around a lot longer.
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post #12 of 20
4/9/11 at 8:14pm
Not a cat but my terrier mix had a heart murmur and did not have any problems from it at all...

The vet who did the blood donor screening (quick exam) told me my cat Church had a heart murmur; but when I asked my regular vet about it she checked it more thoroughly and said they were wrong. She said his heart sounded just fine but she thought he may have asthma and they might have mis-interpreted what they were hearing from his lungs and thought it was his heart. He had recurring URIs as a kitten so asthma is not really a big surprise. He hasn't really shown any symptoms though.
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post #13 of 20
4/10/11 at 1:41pm
Good luck tomorrow! Don't forget to let us know how it goes.

!!!!
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post #14 of 20
4/10/11 at 2:14pm
Many many Prayers and for your sweet little Finny.
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post #15 of 20
4/10/11 at 10:26pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks so much for remembering. I am feeling guilty he will be scared but praying for the best for sweet sweet boy! Will give you an update tomorrow!
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post #16 of 20
4/11/11 at 5:31pm
Thread Starter 
Good news!!! Finn looks to be doing ok. He does indeed have a murmur as suspected but the doctor said he is not overly worried. His diagnosis is mild flow type murmur and upper limits of normal ventricle thickness. Dr McGregor said that may just be Finn being Maine Coon. It was the best money I spent.

This doctor was incredible. He asked what I did for a living and then explained what was going on in terms of my profession. If anyone in MD and needs an excellent vet cardio drop me a note. I am lucky he is two blocks from me people in the waiting room had come from a couple different states. This man was so kind he put me as ease and I have no doubt that when I bring back in 8 months for his check up. Now my biggest worry is getting the sonogram jelly off his fur.

So my advice for anyone who finds out their cat has a heart murmur is relax and wait to hear what the cardio said I spent more time being about essentially nothing. I hope I can remember that in 8 months when he goes back in for his check up!

Thanks to everyone for their support.
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post #17 of 20
4/11/11 at 5:36pm
Yay!!! what wonderful news, and how great to have found such a good vet to work with.
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post #18 of 20
4/11/11 at 5:38pm
Yay, Thank God.
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post #19 of 20
4/11/11 at 6:28pm
Aw that's great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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post #20 of 20
4/13/11 at 9:28pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks everyone we are very relieved!
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