Cats, like humans, can suffer from heart disease. However, they are masters when it comes to hiding pain, so it can sometimes be very difficult for us to know how healthy they are.
Therefore, it is very important that we be attentive to any new detail that may have arisen, as it can be a sign that our friend is not well. I will explain to you below how to know if my cat has heart problems.
What are the symptoms of heart disease in cats?
The cat is a furry one that will not express pain unless it can no longer bear it. When you have heart problems, the symptoms you are going to show are as follows:
- Lethargy: it is because the heart is forced to work harder to get the blood to all parts of the body, which causes the cat to tire much faster when doing any physical activity.
- dizziness- When walking you will feel dizzy and weak, so you will learn that it is better to stay still.
- High respiratory rate: In a healthy cat, the respiratory rate varies between 20 to 30 breaths per minute. If it exceeds 35 while at rest, you should be concerned, because your lungs, due to an accumulation of fluid, do not work properly, so the exchange of oxygen through them is ineffective.
- PantingUnless the cat has played vigorously or it is very hot, if we see that it breathes through its mouth, it probably has heart problems.
- Loss of appetite: if its heart is sick, the cat will stop swallowing as otherwise it would have to stop breathing.
- Fainting- In severe cases, the cat may pass out when not enough blood reaches the brain.
- Accumulation of fluid in the belly: as a result of an exchange of fluids within the blood vessels that allow the fluid to seep into the body cavities.
- Hind leg paralysis- If the disease continues to progress, blood clots develop that lodge at a point where the main artery leading to its hind legs divides in two.
Which is the treatment?
If we suspect that our cat has heart problems, there is no doubt: we must go immediately to the vet. Once there, you will have a series of tests, such as ultrasound of the heart, x-rays, and blood tests to determine the cause and thus find the diagnosis. Depending on the reason why the heart is not working properly, the professional may choose to intervene surgically to repair it or to eliminate excess fluid, or they will recommend giving you medications and a low sodium diet.
Cats with heart disease have to be taken care of as soon as possible. Remember that an early diagnosis helps to make recovery faster.