Heart murmur

[badfurday]

Hi all

I collected my 17 year old cat from the cattery on Saturday. All fine but his stomach was very bloated.

He wasn’t himself so took him to the vet on Monday. Turns out he has a heart murmur and fluid build up in abdomen. Was given a diuretic injection and some in tablet format.

He has since been ok in himself, but eating very small amounts ( assuming due to the Ascities?) have another appointment for Monday for him but not sure if I should take him back tomorrow. His stomach seems only a fraction smaller.

Has anyone got any experience of cats with heart murmurs? Guessing this may be the beginning of the end….. 😔

Vet here. I would want to see this patient back rather than leave over the weekend- fluid can also build up in the chest cavity and that can be really serious. Even if they assess him and think he isn't too bad, they might be able to tweak his meds or offer appetite support to keep him more comfortable. You're in a really tough time right now - some cats respond well and can go on for several months, but others don't and because cats hide signs so well it's always best to get checked out. Best of luck xx

I would say the heart murmur and abdominal ascites are 2 separate issues.
if the heart murmur was to cause fluid overload it would be in his chest. A diuretic would sometimes work for this.
Abdominal Ascites tends to be, I’m sorry to say, caused by a tumour in the abdominal area, or liver. It can usually be removed only by drainage.

I would phone your vet to firstly clarify if your cat had chest fluid overload (ie was in some heart failure) or abdominal fluid. Or both.

Neither of these things are good really but can be managed in a palliative way depending on their severity of course.

If it was my cat I would take them back to the vet tomorrow and I’m really sorry hope for the best but be prepared for the very worst.

Thinking of you and your cat especially as I lost my 10 year old cat in April after she battled illness for over a year, and I know it’s hard.

Sorry meant to say my cat had a heart murmur and bowel & liver cancer x

Maybe ask for a scan as of her stomach and maybe heart as
my cat was diagnosed with a heart murmer and thyroid issues
18months ago.

Last Monday she was hopilised due to very swollen tummy which came out of nowhere within two days

( I have a post about it on her and somewhere and was going to update tomorrow)

They said she had fluid showing In her stomach. We all thought it was heart related but following quick scans /screening she was sedated for full scans.

She recovered well from sedation but they found a mass in her stomach but not as much fluid they intailly thought.

Its an agressive type we have brought her home on pallative care meds. steroids, pain relief and meds for appitie if requied but she hasn't needed them ones.

She has been eating very well since home and even going over the back fence to neighbours flat roof to sleep as usual, but today I feel her breathing is a bit faster so I think her time to go is approaching as they said its usuarly 3 weeks from diagnoses but could be bit longer.

We are so shocked and sad as we really thought it was her heart issues.
My vet is meant to call me tomorrow regarding more meds but will discuss todays breathing.

She went in the garden this evenng and jumped the fence but I cant see her on the flat roof so im sitting here waiting and hoping she ok.
Good luck.

I've just seen her from my bedroom window she is on the far side at the very end of the flat roof of neighbours, just ignoring me so relieved !