My 9 year old cat has been diagnosed with CHF

Hello everyone, I just joined the forum and was hoping for some advice. My 9 year old cat Nellie was diagnosed two weeks ago with congestive heart failure. We rushed her to our vet because she started gasping for air one night, the vet took an xray and said shes not going to live long. Since then shes had fluids drained from her belly and chest twice and was put on Lasix 20mg and Diltiazem 30mg daily. Each time after the draining she was back to her old self again but that only lasts about a day and then shes back to keeping to herself. We just lost our other cat Nico in April to cancer and I'm not sure our hearts can handle losing her too. Has anyone used these medications before and if so how long until you saw improvement? Or is there a better medication we should ask our vet about?

Welcome!

I'm so sorry to hear about Nico, and Nellie's condition. I found a few threads regarding CHF cats, one of which has since received an update where the cat had made great improvements for several months with the help of medication:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/250290/my-cat-was-diagnosed-with-chf-congestive-heart-failure

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/278981/chf-kitty-barely-eating

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/274655/how-long-does-it-take-lasix-to-work

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/278468/cat-diagnosed-congestive-heart-failure-5-days-ago

Hopefully this will help in the meantime, and others with experience handling CHF kitties will be by to offer more assistance.

Thanks for replying pinkdagger.I've read each of those posts, thanks for sharing them.

@Nellsmom

Hi, you said the vet also drained fluid from the belly?  Did the vet discuss the possibility of FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis)? CHF usually results in fluid in the lungs, not the belly, because a deficiency in the heart can't pump enough blood volume and some of the liquid components of the blood have no where to go and the lungs is the first place they go.  I'm not saying it isn't CHF (did they do an echocardiogram of the heart?) but fluid in the abdominal cavity that comes back soon after draining is a major symptom of FIP.

Is she drinking a lot of water, more than usual?  Lasix makes one very thirsty, so in turn she may be replacing the water volume in her blood as fast as she's losing it (via Lasix) and therefore getting the edema in her thorax and abdomen.

She is drinking lots of water and urinating a lot. He never mentioned anything other then her heart. He told us years ago she had an enlarged heart and said she would have problems later on. No tests other than an xray was done and fluids tested. I tried doing some research on the Diltiazem but can't find any answers. It's only been four days today she's been on it. I'm taking her back to see him in the morning.

I forgot to mention that she hasn't had a bowl movement in a few days. She had an appetite up until this morning.

A few days as in 3 days? What's her usually routine, everyday? She may be backed up and may require an enema. This can cause lack of appetite.

Its been four days. I read on another blod that her being constipated can cause her to breath heavy. Not entirely sure how true that is but im hoping that is whats causing her heavy breathing so soon after her second draining of fluid.

I had really high hopes after she had her fluids drained on Sunday. Unlike the first time she bounced back as soon as we got home. She ate, went to the bathroom and was laying on my lap all night grooming herself but two days later she withdrew and then the heavy breathing started again.

Her usual routine would be daily.

Nellsmom said:

Its been four days. I read on another blod that her being constipated can cause her to breath heavy. Not entirely sure how true that is but im hoping that is whats causing her heavy breathing so soon after her second draining of fluid.

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Okay, if she's so constipated that she's breathing heavy, this is serious and may require more than an enema to clear her. It may require manual removal. I've been through this with my cat and it's very serious. The reason that serious constipation can cause heavy breathing is because 1) she may be so backed up that her intestinal stuff is crowding her lungs and 2) she may have developed an infection due to nonelimination of feces. Cat constipation is nothing to mess around with.

We have an appointment in the morning. I told the vet earlier that she hasnt gone so he had he would do an enema. Shes never had one before, praying for the best. Thanks for replying.

Oh, I do hope it goes well. I just went through this a year ago with my cat and it was awful. Will be thinking positive thoughts for you and your kitty.

If her breathing becomes very labored or if she appears to be in distress, don't wait for the morning, but get her to an emergency vet. You will then be able to transfer her to your regular vet in the morning.

Thanks Abby. I definitely will.