Stumpy's in heart failure - any advice?

[sarahp]

I'm away at the moment in Australia, and put Stumpy in a kennel while we're away. Apparently the stress of it sent her into heart failure

She's only 4 years old, and has shown no signs of heart problems, and only just had her annual exam as well as a blood panel and everything was fine.

She went downhill fast, and the kennel called 3 days after I dropped her off, and my neighbour brought her home, but she got more lethargic over the next 18 hours so my neighbour took her to the vet.

They did an x-ray and determined her lungs weren't good, so had to be transferred to a specialist vet who could deal with it better.

She was struggling to breathe, so is in an oxygen tank to help with that, her temperature was quite low, so she's wrapped in warming blankets, she's been given Lasix - a diuretic - to help with the fluid around her heart, and they'll try to get a better look at her heart to determine the extent and type of heart failure.

Has anyone had any experience with a cat suddenly going into heart failure like this? Anyone got a kitty with any sort of heart failure? How manageable is it? Any words of wisdom would be appreciated...

 

[ldg]

Many for Stumpy. This is very scary.

We boarded our cats, but nothing like this happened. They stressed and didn't eat much if at all for the week. They all lost a lot of weight.

Thank goodness for an observant Kennel and a thoughtful neighbor. But I'm so sorry it was so badly stressful for Stumpy.

 

[carolina]

OMG Sarah - I am so sorry! How scary!
I have no idea... all I can do is send you vibes, and prayers...

 

[mews2much]

Sorry about Stumpy.
I hope she will be ok.
I can ask some breeders I know that had cats with hear problems for advice if you want.

 

[sarahp]

Just spoke to the vet. She's in severe heart failure, and if she survives the next day or so, she probably won't last more than a year.

 

[mews2much]

So sorry about that Sarah.
Prayers for her.

 

[carolina]

OMG Sarah - I am so sorry

How did this happen? Did she have a heart problem before? Poor baby, poor you

 

[sarahp]

It's probably something she had from birth. She NEVER showed any signs of problems, her recent bloodwork was fine, she never had a murmur, she was VERY active. I'm in complete shock at the moment, and so upset that she could go so downhill so fast, without us there.

The vet said that being so young she should not have severe heart failure like this, so she's obviously got major problems in her heart.

 

[katiemae1277]

oh no Sarah! I saw your post on FB but I had no idea it was this bad

I'm so sorry, poor Stumpy!

 

[snake_lady]

Originally Posted by sarahp

Just spoke to the vet. She's in severe heart failure, and if she survives the next day or so, she probably won't last more than a year.

Poor Stumpy

Many for Stumpy. I wouldn't hold too much on the saying of her not lasting more than a year.... animals are quite amazing, and I know in my case they told me that Brandy wouldn't last more than 6mos, and I was able to spend 1.5yrs with her. Triple what the vet thought

Whatever happens, may Stumpy be pain free and not suffer

 

[Ms. Freya]

Oh my goodness...how awful.

Lots of and

for you and Stumpy.

 

[pipersjo]

OMG, I am so sorry Sarah! Hopefully you will have more than the year that they are telling you! that she feels better and that you are ok

 

[bunnelina]

So sorry to read about this. When I boarded my Bunnelina, who had lymphoma, for a week last summer, she developed heart failure at the vet, from the cancer. It's an awful experience, I know.

I don't think she was all that stressed when it happened; she was apparently having a great time there, demanding and soaking up attention from everyone, and purring like mad. She wasn't pining for us.

Don't blame yourself, which we all tend to do. There's no way you could have predicted this. It's awful to be so far away, but your cat is right where she needs to be; she couldn't be at home even if you were there.

You might ask your neighbor to go to your house and gather some of your well-worn clothes, to put in Stumpy's cage so she has your familiar scent. It will send her a message that you're with her.

Keep in mind that if Stumpy has a defective heart, this would have happened eventually, and you might not have spotted it until it was too late. It can be sudden and hard to detect; it was in my cat's case. We owe a lot to a vet assistant who kept noticing Bunny's odd, fast breathing — which always normalized as soon as she called the vet into the room. She persisted, and Bunny survived.

The best place for a cat to go into heart failure is at the vet, as my vet told me. Our cat sitter certainly wouldn't have noticed the warning signs and we probably wouldn't have figured it out either. It could have developed when we were away for the day or at work....

There are medications to manage heart failure. I would imagine that a young, otherwise healthy cat will do better than an older cat, so you have her youth in your favor.

I wish you and Stumpy the very best, and I hope you have many good times together.

 

[addiebee]

Oh, Sarah!!!

for Stumpy and for YOU and your hubby.

 

[esrandall2000]

Originally Posted by Bunnelina

The best place for a cat to go into heart failure is at the vet, as my vet told me. Our cat sitter certainly wouldn't have noticed the warning signs and we probably wouldn't have figured it out either. It could have developed when we were away for the day or at work....

There are medications to manage heart failure. I would imagine that a young, otherwise healthy cat will do better than an older cat, so you have her youth in your favor.

I wish you and Stumpy the very best, and I hope you have many good times together.

Bunnelina is absolutely right. Stumpy is at the right place with the right meds. She is young and I'll bet that she's a fighter!!!!!:vibe s:: vibes:

 

[katkisses]

Oh no, I hope she will be ok, and the vets are wrong.

 

[valanhb]

OMG! What a horrible thing to happen to such a sweet girl, and while you are so far away.

Thank goodness it happened at the boarding facility where people were watching her closely, and double thank goodness for your wonderful neighbor who is taking such good care of her.

No advice, Sarah, just lots of

 

[greycat2]

I'm so sorry Sarah. Many

and to you and dear Stumpy.

I don't have any experience in this yet. I hope for the best for her

 

[white cat lover]

OMG Sarah I am beyond shocked to see this thread! You know how I love Stumpy.....I am sending all the her boyfriend Dory & I can muster!!

 

[lovesmycats]

I'm so sorry, Sarah. I am praying for Stumpy and for you. God Bless her!