[Gpdd] Health-Heart Murmur

[Cazza177]

Dear Shauna

I am sorry this is such a late reply, but I've had emails problems of late.

I lost my own gp to heart failure last year. Ironically, I am also taking
care of my cat, who has the same condition (as well as other aliments). I am
no expert, but here's what I can tell you.

Despite heart failure sounding like it must mean the end cannot be far off,
animals can actually live with the condition for years without any
noticeable issues. Sadly, in most cases of this condition, the first the
owner will know of it is when things suddenly rapidly worsen.

You are fortunate in that you have been made aware of the problem by your
vet, and so can keep a much closer eye on subtle changes. If you should
notice Willos's breathing rate get quicker for no apparent reason (i.e. she
hasn't just been running around, but is at rest), this is a signal to get
her to your vet asap. Do not wait until morning, should you spot this in the
night, as time is of the essence.

I read some of the other Digesters have suggested Lasix for treatment (also
known as Fruisimide). This is a diuretic and will be a great use if your
Willow should start to get a build up of fluid in or around her lungs. Such
a build up can occur with heart failure, although it is possible for your
piggy to have heart failure for many months, even years, without the fluid
aspect of this condition developing. My vet has advised in the case of our
cat, not to use diuretics until they are actually required, i.e. until my
cat possibily does show the rapid breathing signs. At that stage, an x-ray
would be done to confirm fluid is there and treatment with Lasix would
begin. The down side to using it before you need to is that it can put
strain on the kidneys.

There are other reasons for changes in heart rate other than heart failure,
such as an over-active thyroid. This is possible in cats, but I am uncertain
as to if it is true of gp's, so please ask your vet, as if it is that, there
will be medications available to keep this under control, and the mumur
would then cease. A blood test would be required to test the thyroid.

Cats can also have a deficiency of a certain vitamin which can cause heart
failure. Whether this is true in the case of gp's, I don't know, but again,
please ask your vet.

If you can rule out what might be causing the mumur, then Willow will not be
put on drugs unnesscessarily.

I understand exactly what you mean about the travelling such a distance to
see a specialist. Now my cat has her heart condition, we have a vet come out
to her, as she is very nervous and if we take her to the vets (where we
usually have to wait a good half an hour before being seen), she gets very
stressed, and such situations with heart failure should be avoided. Even if
you did the journey and the specialist did an ultra sound to confirm the
problem, treatment of Lasix and possibily other heart drugs would, I
imagine, be the same basic recommendation your vet would make. There is no
surgery options that I know of for cats for heart failure, and I was never
offered anything like that with my own gp who had the condition.

Making sure Willow has a good diet, with fresh veg and access to water at
all times, exercise as usual, avoiding stressful situations, and monitoring
her for any changes, especially breathing changes, is the main objective.
Weighing Willow once a week is also a good idea.

You may want to start listening to Willow's lungs a couple of times a week,
so you know well how they sound. You would then be more tuned-in to any
changes you may start to hear. Don't forget to listen on both sides of her
body. It is easy to hear a gp's lungs. Just sit Willow on your lap and put
your ear to her chest. If there is fluid there, or perhaps the start of an
infection, you can often hear a clicking sound. You should take Willow to
the vets if you hear this or see any noticeable breathing change
immediately.

If you want to be sure about how Willow's lungs and heart are right now, you
can request an x-ray. If you have the opportunity of a digital x-ray, go for
that, as they show more. Especially with Willow's heart mumur, it is
essential you ensure your vet conducts an x-ray WITHOUT the use of general
aneasthetic. He/she can easily do this. The method sounds crude, but what
they usually do is bandage a gp to a weighted box, such as a shoe box, which
allows them to stay still. Please ensure you insist no general aneasthetic
or sedation is used. Any fluid in or around the lungs, and any sign of an
enlarged or abnormal heart, will show on x-ray.

You may also want to have a urine analysis done to make sure your gp's
kidneys are ok, so that if she does have to go on diurectics, your vet knows
exactly what sort and dosage is best. Do not let your vet take urine from
Willow by squeezing her -- I have read of a disasterous story on the Digest
when this method was used. Instead, you can obtain your own sample in a
sterile container by letting Willow sit on a clean piece of flat plastic or
glass (be careful of any sharp edges), and when she has been, you can tip
the urine into the container. You may want to syringe Willow a little water
first, to make her want to go.

Urine results should show Specific Gravity as mid-scale and pH balance at 8
to 8.5. All other readings should be negative. If not, then your vet will
tell you where any kidney problem lies.

There are heart medications available for gp's called Benazepril
(Lotensin®). There's also one, I beleive, called Enacard. See
http://www.guinealynx.info/cardiovascular_agents.html for further info.

For more info on gp's with heart problems, there is this excellent link at
Guninea Lynx http://www.guinealynx.info/heart.html#signs

Further down this link, you will see some 'Case Studies'. These may be
useful for your vet as both guidance and reference, as they show x-rays and
give details of each gp's heart history, so please do hold onto this.

I want to finish by saying vets will medically tell you the situation how it
is, but they won't tell you there is hope, so I'm going to. It is true that
heart failure is serious and that changes can occur very rapidly, but as I
have seen for myself, it is also true animals can cope incredibly well with
the situation if given the right treatment and care. Don't be afraid to ask
your vet anything you want to know. Make a list of questions before you see
him/her again, and perhaps get the telephone number of the place in Boston,
and ask them general questions over the 'phone once you know more about
Willow's case.

My best wishes for you and your piggy, and I hope the above has helped.

With kind regards

Carole