Cardiomyopathy in Cats
What is cardiomyopathy?
Literally, the term "cardiomyopathy" means disease of the heart muscle.
Kienle, RD. Feline Cardiomyopathy. In Tilley, LP; Smith, FWK; Oyama, MA; Sleeper, MM. Manual of Canine and Feline Cardiology 4th edition. Saunders Co. Philadelphia, PA; 2008:151-175.
Cardiomyopathy: A disease or disorder of the heart muscle, especially of unknown or obscure cause.
Carpal Pads: The pads on the wrists of a cat's front legs which provide traction.
Castrate: To remove the testicles of a male cat.
Cardiomyopathy: Genetically linked heart defect that causes heart failure.
Carnivore: Animal primarily eating meat.
Carrier: A cat carrying a genetic defect or disease.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
Dilated cardiomyopathy involves poor heart contractility with an accompanying thinning of the walls around all heart chambers.
Cardiomyopathy : A serious heart condition in which the heart is enlarged or rigid, causing decreased cardiovascular functioning..
Cardiomyopathy
A progressive, genetically linked heart defect that causes heart failure.
Caries ...
Cardiomyopathy in Cats
Cardiomyopathy in cats occur when the heart muscles are not able to pump sufficient blood into the body. In most cases the heart muscles are damaged. To know more about cardiomyopathy in cats, read on...
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle where the heart muscle of the left ventricle thickens and becomes stiffer than normal.
HCM - Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
This is a disease that affects a number of cat breeds including this one (and I thought it didn't). Read about this disease in general terms here.
A genetic predisposition towards hypertrophic cardiomyopathy appears in some genetic lines of the Maine Coon population. In extreme cases, this condition can result in the sudden death of what appears to be an otherwise healthy animal.
Heart Disease (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy) in Cats
The heart has four chambers: two chambers at the top, the right and left aorta; and two chambers on the bottom, the right and left ventricles.
One issue that seems to plague Ragdolls is a heart condition known as cardiomyopathy. This condition is often found in larger breeds of cats, and results in a gradual breaking down of the heart muscles.
Inherited health problems in the Maine Coon can include hip dysplasia and cardiomyopathy (a degenerative heart disorder that may cause a mild murmur or serious heart problems).
The Chinchilla Longhair is generally a healthy cat. Occasionaly they may suffer from Cardiomyopathy or Polycystic kidney disease. Also their eyes can become runny and must be wiped with a soft, clean cloth or tissue to keep clear of debris.
Lack of taurine can cause blindness or even death by cardiomyopathy. There are also a few other similar nutrients, such as arachidonic acid (a fatty acid only found in animals), but taurine is the most widely known.
A long medley of genetic problems such as cardiomyopathy, kidney disorders and pancreatitis saturate this type. Only a few remaining bloodlines are still healthy. THE TRADITIONAL CAT ASSOCIATION, INC. DOES NOT SUPPORT THE EXTREME WEDGE SIAMESE.
Breeders should also have an awareness of common inherited diseases which can affect all cats, such as Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, and their implications.
 See also: Behavior, Veterinarian, Heart Disease, Taurine, Hyperthyroidism
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