When should I worry about a heart murmur in my cat?

How old do kittens have to be to have heart problems?

Severe congenital heart problems may be obvious in very young kittens, but commonly they do not become apparent until the kitten has reached three or four months of age, when they become larger and more active, placing more stress on their cardiovascular system.

Should I be worried about my cat’s heart murmur?

These murmurs tend to be quieter, with the cat showing no obvious signs of illness at all, but still, a work up may be needed to confirm that they are nothing to worry about. Sometimes such murmurs are only temporary, e.g. in young growing cats, but they can happen at any age. How Does A Veterinarian Discover The Cause A Heart Murmur? 1.

Should I be worried if my dog has a heart murmur?

Hearing a murmur during a physical exam is no reason to panic. However, a heart murmur is a reason to discuss heart disease and what it may mean for your pet. Many dogs and cats with heart murmurs will live long, happy, healthy lives. They may never need treatment for heart disease. For some, the murmur can indicate something more serious.

What does it mean when a cat has a Grade 6 murmur?

You can feel a grade 6 murmur as a vibration when you place your hand over your pet’s heart. Higher murmur grades can indicate more cause for concern. However, grade does not always correlate with the severity of the underlying heart disease. For instance, a cat with a grade 1 can have severe heart disease (i.e., cardiomyopathy).

Should I spay or neuter my cat with a heart murmur?

Echo had a heart murmur, we did an echocardiogram to determine if it was fixable (under an anesthetic) and neutered him at the same time. The cause was not fixable and very severe and he passed away at 8 months old. So I would talk to you doctor about it, I would agree that the cat should still be spayed, but some precautions taken.

What does a heart murmur in a cat Mean?

Heart murmurs are very common in cats. A heart murmur means that in addition to the normal lub-dub heart sounds, a vet can also hear extra sounds when listening with a stethoscope. This can indicate an irregularity with blood flow between the heart’s valves, which could affect oxygen and nutrients levels as blood is pumped around the body.

What is a heart murmur during a physical exam?

Murmurs are extra heart vibrations. The sound is created from a disturbance in the blood flow that produces a “swooshing” sound between the normal “lub-dub” heart sounds. Hearing a murmur during a physical exam is no reason to panic.

What should I do if my cat is having labored breathing?

Whatever the cause for labored breathing, your cat needs an immediate medical evaluation since this condition cannot be treated at home and can be deadly. It is very disturbing to see your cat struggling to take a breath.

What is a Grade 6 heart murmur in a dog?

The vet will also grade the intensity of the heart murmurs while listening with the stethoscope. This grade is placed on a scale of I to VI. Grade I is barely audible, and it is heard on only one side of the chest. By Grade VI, the loudness has intensified.

What does it mean when a kitten has a heart murmur?

A heart murmur is an abnormal sound that a vet hears when listening to the cat’s heart through a stethoscope. Not all murmurs should be a cause for concern, but they can indicate underlying heart disease. Innocent murmurs are quite common in kittens.

What grade is a low intensity heart murmur?

In general, a physiologic or innocent heart murmur will have a low intensity (usually Grade I-II out of VI), and does not cause any symptoms or clinical signs. What structural heart problems cause a heart murmur?

What is a heart murmur and what causes it?

A heart murmur is a noise related to abnormal blood flow in or out of the chambers of the heart. This is usually only audible with a stethoscope and can be heard in addition to, or instead of, the normal heart beat sounds.

How old do kittens have to be to get a heart murmur?

The severity and causes of congenital murmurs vary widely. We recommend baseline testing for puppies or kittens with a heart murmur that is greater than a grade 2 and still present after 5 to 6 months of age. An acquired murmur develops later in life.

Can a vet tell you if your dog has a heart murmur?

When you bring your pet to the veterinarian, you want everything to go well, your pet to be happy, and your vet to find nothing abnormal on physical exam. So when the veterinarian tells you that your dog or cat has a heart murmur, it can be a bit of a shock.

What is a Grade 2 heart murmur in cats?

What is a grade 2 heart murmur in cats? Heart murmurs are graded on a scale of 1 to 6. Grades 1–2 are considered low in loudness and intensity. These are often difficult to hear and maybe overlooked if not too careful.

How are heart murmurs classified?

Heart murmurs are classified in three ways: loudness, location, and nature. Heart murmurs are graded on how easily they can be heard, on a scale of one to six, from quietest to loudest.

What is the prognosis of a heart murmur in cats?

Many healthy cats with a heart murmur never develop any problems with their heart and go on to lead long, happy and healthy lives. The prognosis depends on the cause of the heart murmur. Heart murmurs are graded 1-6, with 1 being of the least concern and 6 being of the most concern.

What does it mean when a cat murmurs?

If, however, the murmur is associated with structural heart disease, your cat may display signs of congestive heart failure such as coughing, weakness, or exercise intolerance. Grade III—intermediate loudness; most murmurs which are related to the mechanics of blood circulation are at least grade III

What does it mean when you hear a heart murmur?

A heart murmur is an abnormal sound produced by the heart when turbulent and high-velocity blood flows through it that can be heard through a stethoscope. Cats help you deal with stress and make you a better person as you learn how to cope.

What are the characteristics of a heart murmur?

When attributable to cardiac disease, murmur characteristics reflect which underlying cardiac disease may be present. 1. Intensity refers to the loudness of a murmur. Murmur intensity or “grade” is defined below. 1 If murmur grade varies, as it often does in cats, the term “dynamic” is used and the grade is given as a range.

How is a heart murmur diagnosed?

Detailed analysis of a heart murmur is usually accomplished by carrying out an echocardiogram, or an ultrasound examination of the heart. Ultrasound of the heart enables detailed evaluation of the heart muscle, the heart chambers, the valves of the heart, and other structures around the heart.

Why is my cat breathing heavy all the time?

These infections are typically viral and can make it difficult for cats to breathe, leading to heavy breathing. If a secondary bacterial infection develops, your cat may need to be treated with antibiotics.

Can a cat be diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy without an echocardiogram?

This was the case with my cat, Priscilla, who was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at age 11. Since echocardiograms aren’t done unless either the cat shows symptoms, or a veterinarian detects a heart murmur (that’s how Priscilla was diagnosed with HCM), there’s no way to know that anything is wrong beforehand.

What are the different grades of heart murmur?

Vets rank the intensity or volume of a heart murmur in grades from one to 6, with one being hardly audible and six being the loudest. There is also a one-to-five ranking system that works the exact same method.