Heart murmur/healthy heart diet

Hi I'm new here. mom to 3 furbabies...Nealan and Peekaboo (cats) and Jackson (dog).
My Peekaboo and Nealan are 4 yrs old. Nealan just recently went blind (he's GREAT other wise and has adapted well to his surroundings.)
 

Peekaboo started hiding the other day and and I took him into the vet to get checked out. The vet detected a high heart rate (over 240) and a murmur. Had blood taken to check thyroid function and it was normal. Vet said a slight elevation of something in his bloodwork (can't recall the name) which could indicate he possibly hit himself or fell off something and he's hiding to heal. All other blood work came back fine and all his organ functions are good.
 

I am concerned about the murmur that was detected. Vet suggested a wait and see approach unless he develops respiratory or significant symptoms. She suggested a change in his diet aimed at heart health. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

Hi kkce... Welcome to TCS

Your vet's advice sounds good.  I haven't had any heart issues with my cats, but others may come along who know more about murmurs. It was also discussed on this thread:   http://www.thecatsite.com/t/247483/delilahs-heart-murmur

We'd love pics of your furbabies!

Our Flowerbelle has a heart murmur and high blood pressure. We had a cardiac ultrasound done to determine whether she has heart disease or if it's a structural problem with her heart. The ultrasound (done by a specialist at our vet's office) revealed that she simply has mitral valve prolapse (which I have too :lol3: ), so no heart disease.

After ruling out everything that could be a cause of her high blood pressure, it was determined that hers is a result of scarring of some of her arteries from a severe lung worm infection when rescued. So we have her on medication to lower her blood pressure, and we have it tested regularly.

We also give her a krill oil supplement (she weighs 7 pounds, and we give her the adult dose of 500mg daily). This is definitely a heart-healthy thing to do. :nod: This is the one we use: She doesn't like it squirted on her food, so I just pill her with it. But most cats like it. :lol3:

As to heart-healthy foods... basically a wet food only diet that is high protein, low carbohydrate and grain free (unfortunately, grain-free doesn't necessarily mean low carb. ). This happens to be the healthiest diet for a cat anyway. We feed our cats raw food. But dry food often has sodium in it to stimulate thirst, and you definitely want to avoid that. :nod: Cats are descended from desert animals, and are designed, from an evolutionary standpoint, to get the water they need from the food they eat: they have very little thirst drive. You can learn more here: http://www.catinfo.org

Dr. Pierson (the vet that wrote that website) also has a very helpful section on choosing species-appropriate canned foods.

As-someone-who-had-a-kitty-with-heart-issues,and-lost-him,at-only-5yrs-old,I-highly-highly-recommend,you,DO-NOT-take-the-wait-and-see-issue.His-was-genetic,Maine-Coon,diagnosed-as-a-kitten.

Its-like-your-doctor-telling-you,well,we-found-a-lump-on-your-breast,but-lets-wait-and-see,if-any-other-issues-develop.

I-also-highly-recommend,you-find-another-vet.This-is-a-serious-issue,and-you-need-a-vet-that-is-going-to-help-you,not-blow-you-off.

A-vet-can-estimate-the-grade,based-on-the-heart-murmur.Grades-are,1-6,with-1-being-moderate,and-6-being-severe.The-only-way-to-properly-diagnose-and-treat-with-proper-medcations,is-to-have-an-ultrasound-done.

Your-vet-should-have-also-done-an-x-ray,to-see-if-there-was-fluid-on-the-heart-or-lungs,and/or-to-see-if-the-heart-is-enlarged,and/or-if-there-are-valve-issues.

You-need-to-get-a-copy-of-the-blood-panel-done,all-the-vet-does-is-photocopy-it.It-will-show-you-what-values-were-tested-for,what-the-normal-range-is,and-what-your-cats-values-are.You-need-to-know,what-values-were-not-normal.You-also-need-to-have-a-baraomater,of-what-his-values-are-now,and-compare-them-to-values-later-on.This-also-helps-a-vet,determine,if-something-else-may-be-going-on,or-getting-worse.

There-is-no-specific"heart-diet"persay,its-the-ingredients-you-are-looking-for.

What-you-need-is,grain-free,by-product-free,soy-free-gluten-free,and-most-importantly,and-his-cardiologist-at-UC-Davis,stressed,LOW-IN-SALT.Salt-should-be-listed-almost-at-the-end-of-the-ingredents.

I-feed-Blue-Wilderness,and-yes,wet-is-better-than-dry,you-need-to-mix-the-wet-with-water,so-its-soupy.

He-needs-to-be-on-a-med-that-slows-his-heart-rate,he-was-on-Atenonol.He-needs-to-be-on-a-blood-thinner,most-are-given-1-baby-aspirin,81mgs,every-3-days,but-dosage,depends-on-the-issue,or-there-are-other-meds-out-there,that-may-better-work,depending-on-the-issue.The-cardiologist,can-best-determine-meds-and-dosages,depending-on-what-he/she-finds.

You-also-have-to-be-concerned-with-fluids-build-up,and-if-needed,put-on-lasix,think-its-called,its-that,or-altace.If-he-starts-breathing-heavy-or-panting,he-has-fluid-build-up.

If-he-should-drag-his-back-legs,be-unable-to-walk,or-appear-to-limp,or-not-use-one-paw,that-means-he-most-likely-threw-a-clot,which,is-the-beginning,of,the-end.Thats-what-happened-to-him,fine-one-day,threw-a-clot-the-next-day,I-had-to-put-him-down,it-was-thee,worst-day,of-my-life,he-was-my-boy.

Not-trying-to-scare-you,just-educate-you.You-need-to-aggressivly,pursue-testing-and-treatment/meds.

Best-of-luck,with-whatever-you-decide-to-do,and-if-you-have-any-questions,please-don't-hesitate-to-ask.

2-cardiologists-said-he-wouldn't-live-past-1-yr-old,he-made-it-to-5.

((((((((((BIG-HUGS))))))))

Well, the OP needs to be "concerned" about fluid build-up IF the problem is heart disease, and that hasn't yet been determined. To the OP, it is very possible for your kitty to have a heart murmur without having heart disease. But yes, the vet should be able to determine the grade of the murmur, and yes, an x-ray to look for fluid (or heart enlargement) would be a normal part of the process.

FYI, the lasix is if he has heart disease. Until kitty has an ultrasound done, there's no way to know if the murmur is due to HCM or not. Flowerbelle does not have HCM, and does not need Lasix.

FlintMcCullough said:

He-needs-to-be-on-a-med-that-slows-his-heart-rate,he-was-on-Atenonol.He-needs-to-be-on-a-blood-thinner,most-are-given-1-baby-aspirin,81mgs,every-3-days,but-dosage,depends-on-the-issue,or-there-are-other-meds-out-there,that-may-better-work,depending-on-the-issue.The-cardiologist,can-best-determine-meds-and-dosages,depending-on-what-he/she-finds.

Click to expand...

As to that, we do not give our cat aspirin for her blood pressure. Aspirin is very hard on their kidneys. We are using amlodpine besylate (Norvasc) to control Flowerbelle's blood pressure. Again - what to use would depend on the determination as to WHY blood pressure is elevated.

I would consider a 2nd vet opinion. Or better yet, is there a small animal cardiologist in your area? I am kind of surprised your vet didn't refer you to one...

Anytime-there-is-heart-issue,one-should-always-be-concerned,about-possible-fluids,and-it-should-be-looked-into,by-x-ray,by-ultrasound.It-is-a-serious-concern,and-should-be-ruled-out,or-treated.

The-OP-asked,if-he/she-should-take-the-wait-and-see-approach,as-his/her-vet-suggested,the-anser,is-no.Even-her-vet-alluded-to,well,lets-see-if-there-are-respitory-issues,which,would-be-the-result-of-fluids.They-have-trouble-breathing,because,of-the-fluids.

I-said,there-are-many-medications-out-there,and,it-depends-on-the-issue,as-to-what-medications-would-be-given.

I-said,a-cardiologist-could-proper-determine,the-medications-based-on-what-the-issue-is.

I-never,mentioned-HCM.

I-only-lost-him-a-few-months-ago,and-to-try-and-give-him/her-some-information,is-still-very-tramatic-for-me-to-post,but-I-wanted-to-help-him/her.

Any-cat,breed-or-unregistered/non-breed-cat,can-have-heart-issues,for-a-zillion-reasons,and-there-are-many-kinds,per-say,of-heart-issues.The-tradedy,for-him,was,his-didn't-need-to-happen.His-was-genetic,breeders-didn't-test.Well,now-they-do,I-took-care-of-that.They-came-across-the-wrong-kitten-buyer,and-there-are-still-lawsuits-going-on.

Thank you for the information! I'm researching as much as I can

Karen, Peekaboo & Nealan

One thing I'm thinking of is that if one cat went blind and the other with heart issues, it may be the food you were feeding had a taurine deficiency. I'm not sure if there is a test for taurine, but I would probably ask.
:nod:

Interesting, Minka, and good point. What are the kitties eating?