Kitten has heart murmur found at spay

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Oh god I'm in a complete panic ...

Took Holly and Ivy, our female 23 week old kittens for spaying this morning, and the vet's just called to say Ivy has a heart murmur!!! She says she still needs to be spayed but that they're going to be very careful with the anaesthetic, etc

Of course I'm worried sick she won't even make it through the surgery, or die soon afterwards; there's no way we could have known about this as she seems in perfect health on a day to day basis

Has anyone had a kitten spayed under these circumstances? Is there any real chance of her making it?

[alltouchedout]

The family cat had a heart murmur. He was fine with anaesthetic for neutering, stitching up after fighting a dog (yes really) and on one other occasion that I can't remember the reason for! He lived til he was 17 and was in great shape right up to the last few weeks.

[Micah]

If it was life threatening the vet wouldnt go ahead with the spaying.

They phoned you just to keep you informed, and warn you of the increased risk of anaesthetic.

She'll be fine.

[DickDewy]

I got a similar call from the vet when my young dog went into be castrated.

He says he had a grade 2 heart murmur.

He was, is, completely fine.

He's actually no longer has it - it has disappeared. He's almost 5.

It's not something I worried about. Your vet wouldn't operate if she thought it was life threatening.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

What I can't understand is why nothing was said when we took her for her jabs at 12 weeks - they listened with the stethoscope and everything and said she was in excellent health. Wouldn't it ave been picked up then??

Absolutely dreading the phone going

[Micah]

Who knows, it might be recent, it might be so mild that it couldnt be heard in a normal appt, maybe kitten was anxious and the increase in heart rate masked it.

With the sedation, quiet cat and quiet of a surgery environment it might have been picked up.

It sounds minor though :)

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Yes, I'm hoping it's minor ... I've been googling like mad of course and it seems they're graded from 1 to 5. Surely, SURELY a more severe one would have been noticed before?

[DickDewy]

I bet you'll be back on later to say the op was fine.

Try not to worry - it's really common.

[cozietoesie]

Seniorboy has had a heart murmur for years. He also has a dodgy right chamber at the moment. (The vet has her stethoscope out every time he attends her surgery.) He's 21.

Listen to what the vet says - it may just be a grumble which is of no great consequence.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

The vet did mention that it would be best to keep an eye on it when she goes for her jabs ... she said they can do ECGs but that it's extremely expensive and she didn't seem to be pushing the idea

I guess I'm just kidding myself that this means it's not too bad a murmur - don't know whether to ask her what stage it is or not?

[cozietoesie]

I'd keep calm as long as the vet, in her professional judgement, isn't recommending action.

[chemenger]

As long as it doesn't change for the worse over time there is nothing to worry about. Lots of cats have them.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Still heard nothing from the vets, and she was being operated on at about 11am. Would they have let me know if a problem had cropped up, or do tey wait until you go to pick them up, does anyone know?

[cozietoesie]

They let you know right away in my experience. You're in a state, aren't you?

[cozietoesie]

PS - give the practice a quick buzz.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Just called them - and you're right, Cosie, I know it's stupid but I've been SO worried

Receptionist enquired for me and said they've both come through the surgery okay and are just starting to wake up - she didn't make any special mention of Ivy but just said they were both "fine"

Obviously I can't bring them home until they're less groggy, and I don't quite know what all this means for the future, but at least she's come through the op ...

[cozietoesie]

Sorry - replied but was caught up in the outage so it didn't 'take'. Good news anyway. They were probably unaware that you were a little anxious and were waiting to phone you after lunch when they could give you a clearer idea of a taking home time.

Hope they're home soon.



PS - and I'm sure that there are plenty of people who become a little nervous when a beloved pet is having a procedure. I know I do!

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Got them back half an hour ago and they're hammering round the house as if they haven't been touched - honestly can't get over it

Here's the odd thing, though: the nurse who did the hand-back couldn't find any record of a heart murmur on Ivy's notes (though she did recall some mention of it on the "operations board", whatever that is. She really couldn't explain why this would be, as obviously she'd expect it to be recorded ... unless the vet had perhaps decided it was caused by stress and therefore unimportant

So god knows if she's got it or not - I'm not really any further forward, but as I say, at least (like her sister) she's fine in herself

[angryangryyoungwoman]

My cat has a leaky heart valve and murmur. He was diagnosed years ago and is on tablets. He is 16 now and perfectly fit, strong and loud!

[Wolfiefan]

Can't believe I missed this thread!
We have two kittens. At one set of jabs nothing was picked up on. On second set of jabs one had a very slight murmur. The vet was happy to spay. They said something about murmurs not being uncommon and they often sort themselves out as the cats grow. (Unless I've got that wrong!)
I would ask about grade. Is there anything you need to watch for?

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

They didn't mention watching out for anything when we picked them up - but of course there's now no reference to it on the notes, so perhaps the nurse (didn't see the actual vet) thought there was no need? As I said, nothing was picked up at their 12 and 15 week jabs / full examination so this whole thing's come very much out of the blue

They have to go back in 10 days to have the stitches out, so I'll try to get some kind of proper answer then

[Wolfiefan]

I can't imagine it was a serious murmur or I imagine it would have been picked up much earlier. Glad they are home safe. Hoping you get a clearer picture in 10 days. Xx

[TheSpottedZebra]

I had a heart murmur picked up at 30. I'd previously been through countless ops, and intensive treatment for cancer where it didn't show/was missed.

Then the next week, my cat who must have been 9ish also had a heart murmur diagnosed -he'd only had 1 previous op (ball-ectomy) but he did have regular check ups and boosters. He had to have an op for his teeth a few months ago, but we're both fine.

[TheSpottedZebra]

Oh, diagnosis was 5 years ago.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Thanks, everyone - I really appreciate your support

I've got a bottle of wine staring at me which will shortly be empty; god knows I need it after today!!

[cozietoesie]

How are they doing?