Cat with Heart Murmur- HCM likely diagnosis

kayleemarie90

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My cat Benny is 4 years old. He has had urinary problems 2 times. The first time was mild and required amoxicillin and a diet change which resulted in a quick recovery. A few years later, Benny seemed completely fine until immediate symptoms occurred with him becoming extremely lethargic, not eating or drinking much and avoiding using the bathroom. I took him into my usual clinic and they conducted blood work samples which came back normal except for elevated levels of glucose which they suggested could be from stress. They sent us home with beads and a syringe to try and get a UA sample which we were successfully able to do after a day. The urine sample came back with a PH level of 6.5 and some crystals in the urine and they prescribed amoxicillin. Assuming this was the problem, he still struggled to eat or drink, go to the bathroom and was completely out of it and wanted to hide and sleep all day. My instincts kicked in and I called the emergency vet clinic to tell them what was going on. I eventually took him in a few hours later after I called at 3 am in the morning because having little answers as to what was going on was killing me.

    The vet told me that he had feline idiopathic cystitis, highly concentrated urine and crystals but proceeded to tell me that Benny had a heart murmur and asked if my vet ever told me about this and of course I had no idea. She didn’t seem too concerned but recommended and echocardiogram in the future. When I discovered that she said he had a grade 4 heart murmur my heart sank. Still a couple days after the ER visit and a week of lethargy and barely eating and already over 300 dollars expenses, I still did not have an answer I was looking for and a sick cat to worry about. I took him in for X-rays which I wish they had suggested as the first course of action because they found fluid build up in his lungs and the vet suggested that the heart murmur was the likely culprit causing his symptoms. Right away she gave him a lasix injection and since then he has been his normal self and has responded very well to taking the generic lasix daily 0.5 ml twice daily. I proceeded on with an echocardiogram test and they indicated that HCM is likely the diagnosis since the combination of the internal diameter of the left ventricle of his heart being severely diminished, hypertrophy of the LVPW and borderline hypertrophy of the septum makes HCM likely. My vet has said that the likelihood of his life span will be shortened but can vary on how he responds to all this. His next step is more blood work and blood pressure tests and continuing on lasix and possibly lowering the dosage with no other medications recommended at this point in time. With my baby’s heart broken, mine is broken too thinking everyday about the outcome of his quality of life. I always question many things that led up to this point of his life. I had heard that anesthesia could have caused this and I know he had been under anesthesia twice in his lifetime and I have tried my best to feed him proper food even with all the research I have done on the best food for him even then the top brands aren’t always the best outcome and the vet highly recommends Benny stays on urinary s/o food for the rest of his life. I heard dry food is terrible and wet food is better but then you’re left with all these reviews of many products not being “grain-free” or containing too many carbs, by-products, corn, rice, etc, etc. I am so exhausted worrying about how to be the perfect pet owner and do all the right things. I feel as though some but not all pet food companies and vets are just out to get your money and in the end I fear that all this money I have spent on him already will not be enough to save him.

Anyone out there going through the same issue I would love to hear your suggestions.
 

fromthevalley

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I don't know about the first half with the urinary problems, but I can tell you about HCM (my cat has it, and has been diagnosed for about two years now). HCM is hereditary, meaning one or both parents had it or carried the gene. Putting him under may have furthered it along more quickly, but it was not the cause. Lasix is good, also Atenolol can be used. I'm not sure where you live, but there might be an animal cardiologist that could help you out, even if you don't go to them most are happy to answer questions.

For the food? There is no food out there, wet or dry, that is 'biologically appropriate' for cats, unless you want to go 100% raw (which I do no recommend without a vets help). What are you currently feeding him? 

I can send you some of my cats paperwork on her heart so you can compare. Just hit me up if you need anything. HCM is scary, and Kaylee's vet (a cardiologist) said she might not make it past a few years, but there is a higher chance she could easily live to be 8-10-12-whatever years old.
 
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kayleemarie90

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I appreciate the advice. Currently they switched himy over to hill's w/d since it's a little lower in sodium and still helps with his urinary issues. How is your cat's health otherwise? Do you have a low dose of the lasix? They haven't decided to put him on anything else besides the lasix yet but wow you're right it is scary because I worry I'm gonna come home and find the poor guy dead.
 
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kayleemarie90

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Oh and I would love to compare the paperwork if you could send it that would be so nice of you.
 

salem89

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Just read your response to my post about Buddy and thought I'd come see more of Benny's experience. I 110% agree with you about feeling exhausted from trying to be the perfect pet parent with the never ending barriers and conflicting advice. My biggest fear is that one of my decisions, as simple as the type of food or treat, will harm my babies forever. You're not alone. I honestly almost had a breakdown in the middle of PetSmart yesterday. All we can do is continue to do our best and just remember to love up our furry friends instead of spending so much time worrying. 

I've read up on HCM as well and remember the emphasis on it being hereditary so I really don't think you could have done anything to prevent it. Chin up. Sending lots of positive vibes your way 
 
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kayleemarie90

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I appreciate the kind words. I got on this website to vent about this issue and how frustrating it is to think that you are buying food even from veterinarians and these products aren't always suitable either and it feels like a losing battle. I mean if you really want to know what is best for your animal you have to do hunt around and do all the research yourself and go through the trail and errors. I found out myself just today that the urinary s/o canned food from royal canine was extremely too salty for my little guy with his heart issues and she suggested he get off it right away and switch to the w/d hill's brand and at this point I don't know if this is good either but am trying everything I can to take care of him and not rack my brain and stay up at all hours of the night stressing about this anymore and just love him and be happy he is still in my presence. I am sorry that you are also feeling the emotions of what you're going through as well. Pet's really have a way of pulling at your heart strings and you're right all we can really do is our best and whatever else happens might very well be out of our hands but I guess we know and they know how much we love them and I hope that is enough whatever years they have down here we did our best to love them and I am still learning to accept what I can't control.
 
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kayleemarie90

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This is really helpful to see the paperwork as mine did not seem as extensive as this. I am wondering if he will eventually be put on beta blockers too I will definitely ask when I take him in next week for a check up. I will definitely take your word on this food Idea as I do not really want to keep buying perscription but still wondering about his urine issues. I'very already spent over a grand to help this poor guy and fear I will not have enough down the line. I can't believe if this is so common how it's not recognized as well but I guess that's because I never experienced a pet suffer with this. He acts his usual self with the lasix but this seems like a touch and go thing. I would love to keep in contact with you on your journey through this and am definitely hear to listen to you so please stay updated I hope your baby lives a long happy life thru this unfair disease. You're cat is lucky to have an owner that has been there from the start and has stuck it out. Hang in there I feel the same way I'm more distraught about this than my cat because I can't figure out why things happen the way they do but that's where you see how precious life is.
 
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kayleemarie90

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Would you suggest nature's variety canned food? He hates the hills food so thinking of taking it back. Tired of being scared into staying on perscription if I don't need to.
 

fromthevalley

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Would you suggest nature's variety canned food? He hates the hills food so thinking of taking it back. Tired of being scared into staying on perscription if I don't need to.
Yeah, their canned food stuff is good. I also recommend Weruva if you're going the moist route. 
 
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