Cardiomyopathy - what's the best course of action for diagnosis?

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Juls - 11 Nov 2005 22:45 GMT

Jasmine (age about 5-6 months) has been doing some panting after
strenuous exercise and so I've made an appointment to have her checked
for cardiomyopathy.

What I'm wondering is how is this diagnosed? The panting is her only
symptom, so I'm hopeful it's just that she doesn't know when to quit
running.

My vet does not have a sonogram machine. Is a sonogram an absolute must?

Juls

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Larry - 12 Nov 2005 01:00 GMT

My Sammy has a grade III/VI heart murmur. He then had an electrocardiogram.
That is just an ultrasound with a special machine. The machine can measure
many things like size of heart and the thickness of the heart wall. An
x-ray might show something but an ultrasound would be better.

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Larry - Owned by ten cats

> Jasmine (age about 5-6 months) has been doing some panting after
> strenuous exercise and so I've made an appointment to have her checked
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Juls

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Phil P. - 12 Nov 2005 12:46 GMT

> My Sammy has a grade III/VI heart murmur. He then had an electrocardiogram.
> That is just an ultrasound with a special machine.

Ultrasounds are completely different from an EKG and requires a completely
different machine- they're not interchangeable. Ultrasounds image the heart
with sound waves; EKG works on electrical voltage in the heart. U/S gives
you a pictorial view of the heart structure and functions whereas EKG gives
you a graph.

Ultrasounds and EKG are used for different purposes. One complements the
other but can't replace each other.

The machine can measure

> many things like size of heart and the thickness of the heart wall.

EKG can't differentiate different forms of cardiomyopathy or distinguish
cardiomyopathy from hyperthyroidism, nor can it track blood flow.

An

> x-ray might show something but an ultrasound would be better.

Absolutely.

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glsummer@neptunelink.com - 14 Nov 2005 20:23 GMT

>> My Sammy has a grade III/VI heart murmur. He then had an
>electrocardiogram.
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
>Absolutely.

Oops, I misspoke in an earlier thread on this. And I should know
better, having had both for my own heart! Thanks for the
clarification, Phil.

Ginger-lyn

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Phil P. - 15 Nov 2005 19:31 GMT

> >> My Sammy has a grade III/VI heart murmur. He then had an
> >electrocardiogram.
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
>
> Ginger-lyn

It certainly does get a little confusing, Ginger,- especially with all the
abbreviations. Many people think ECG stands for "echocardiogram" (which
makes perfect sense) but EKG and ECG are actually the same thing- they both
stand for "electrocardiogram'. EKG is the Dutch/German version of the term
(elektrokardiogram) since that's who (Einthoven) invented it in 1901. EKG
just stuck. Ultasounds are usually called 'echoes" or "sonograms" or
"ultrasounds".

Phil.

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> Animals in Movies Website)

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Karen - 12 Nov 2005 01:25 GMT

> Jasmine (age about 5-6 months) has been doing some panting after
> strenuous exercise and so I've made an appointment to have her checked
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Juls

If you are really worried about it, you would want an ultrasound. When
is her appt?

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Juls - 12 Nov 2005 01:31 GMT

> > Jasmine (age about 5-6 months) has been doing some panting after
> > strenuous exercise and so I've made an appointment to have her checked
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> If you are really worried about it, you would want an ultrasound. When
> is her appt?

Wednesday. I guess I'm worried that my vet will listen to her heart and
say she's fine...and then what. I just want what's best for Jas.

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cybercat - 12 Nov 2005 01:40 GMT

> Wednesday. I guess I'm worried that my vet will listen to her heart and
> say she's fine...and then what. I just want what's best for Jas.

If her heart sounds fine, but you are still worried, have an ultrasound to
make sure.

My cat has fainting spells. Her heart sounded fine, albeit fast. We had an
ultrasound
at my regular vet's--it cost $260 and she was awake for it, and the worst
she got
was a shaved chest. Her heart is fine, though she is on a beta blocker to
keep
the beat slowed down so that she will not have fibrillation, which is what
we think
caused the fainting spells.

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Joe Canuck - 12 Nov 2005 01:42 GMT

>>>Jasmine (age about 5-6 months) has been doing some panting after
>>>strenuous exercise and so I've made an appointment to have her checked
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> Wednesday. I guess I'm worried that my vet will listen to her heart and
> say she's fine...and then what. I just want what's best for Jas.

Ultrasound is the only way, listening doesn't diagnose the issue.

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cybercat - 12 Nov 2005 03:15 GMT

> Ultrasound is the only way, listening doesn't diagnose the issue.

And in fact ultrasound may only diagnose structural problems
or "regular" function problems. In other words, my kitty's behavior
suggests that she fibrillates (or her heart beats irregularly for short
periods) and yet the ultrasound showed a normal heart.

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Juls - 12 Nov 2005 04:14 GMT

> > Ultrasound is the only way, listening doesn't diagnose the issue.
>
> And in fact ultrasound may only diagnose structural problems
> or "regular" function problems. In other words, my kitty's behavior
> suggests that she fibrillates (or her heart beats irregularly for short
> periods) and yet the ultrasound showed a normal heart.

Well, this is all very helpful, and I thank you all. I guess I'll just
play it by ear next week.

I do feel more optimistic hearing of others whose kittens didn't know
when to stop. Jas is sure like that, and with the laser dot, she just
won't quit. I've never seen a kitten who goes like she does.

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cybercat - 12 Nov 2005 04:20 GMT

> > > Ultrasound is the only way, listening doesn't diagnose the issue.
> >
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> when to stop. Jas is sure like that, and with the laser dot, she just
> won't quit. I've never seen a kitten who goes like she does.

Juls--try not to worry. I have seen your photos of Jasmine, and she
looks like an angel--I can tell you really love her. It will be okay.
She could not be in better hands. (P.S. She might calm down
after she has been there a while and gets used to having her brother
to play with don't you think?)

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Karen - 12 Nov 2005 01:43 GMT

>>> Jasmine (age about 5-6 months) has been doing some panting after
>>> strenuous exercise and so I've made an appointment to have her checked
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> Wednesday. I guess I'm worried that my vet will listen to her heart and
> say she's fine...and then what. I just want what's best for Jas.

Well, I think you have to make that call. I will say again, I had the
same trouble with SUgar at that age. I've never had a cat that didn't
know when to stop, but she sure didn't. We've never had any trouble
with her heart. I've seen people post it before. So, I don't think it
is that rare at that age.

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Glitter Ninja - 13 Nov 2005 11:28 GMT

>> If you are really worried about it, you would want an ultrasound. When
>> is her appt?

>Wednesday. I guess I'm worried that my vet will listen to her heart and
>say she's fine...and then what. I just want what's best for Jas.

Definitely get a 2nd opinion if the vet says your kitty is just fine.
In heart matters you don't want to be guessing.
I recently had a kitty diagnosed with heart murmurs and
cardiomyopathy. They did an ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis. I
don't remember what kind of cardiomyopathy they called it, but it's the
kind where the heart muscles get thicker and the heart works harder.
Right now he's on Atenolol and goes in for a checkup on Tuesday to see
if the dosage is right. The pills are tiny so it's easy to get him to
take the meds.
Good luck with Jas!

Stacia

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