common feline
heart diseases
Different diseases require different treatments.
Here you’ll find a list of common feline heart diseases, so you can understand exactly what’s going on inside your cat’s heart.
Congestive Heart Failure in Cats
Left-Sided congestive heart failure occurs when the pressure in the blood vessels in the lungs increases causing fluid to leak from the vessels into the surrounding lung tissue. Right-Sided congestive heart failure is a similar process where the fluid...
Acquired HEART DISEASE
Physiologic Murmur in Cats
A physiologic murmur is quite common in cats. This is usually the result of a dynamic right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (dRVO). This condition is created when the muscle of the right ventricular outflow tract squeezes and narrows the exit to the right...
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Cats
Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a state of high blood pressure within the lung (pulmonary) circulation. This condition can be due to heartworm disease and embolic disease (clots into the lungs); however, some cases are considered idiopathic (cause unknown). ...
Systemic Hypertension in Cats
Systemic Hypertension is a state of high blood pressure within the body. This means that the heart must work very hard to propel blood forward, which increases oxygen demands and can cause changes to the myocytes (muscle cells). In veterinary medicine, this...
Feline Aortic Thromboembolism
An aortic thromboembolism is a blood clot that has developed within the heart. It typically lodges at the distal aorta, often termed a “saddle thrombus”, which supplies the rear limbs with blood. This condition makes the affected limbs painful, cold to touch, and...
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy in Cats
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy is a primary myocardial disease wherein the heart muscle is damaged. The myocardium becomes infiltrated with fibrous scar tissue that prevents normal function (failure of both squeezing and relaxation). This is a non-curable and...
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Cats
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is a primary myocardial disease wherein the heart muscle is damaged. The myocytes (muscle cells) become markedly thickened and replicate in a non-uniform pattern. This causes the ventricle (pumping chamber) to become severely thickened,...
Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Cats
Dilated Cardiomyopathy is a primary myocardial disease wherein the heart muscle is damaged and becomes very weak. In cats, this is usually idiopathic, but can develop secondary to nutritional deficiencies (specifically Taurine deficiency). The left ventricle...
CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE
Ventricular Spetal Defect (VSD) in Cats
A Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) is a congenital cardiac disease, causing communication between the left and right ventricle. These can occur in numerous locations and the changes to be expected depends on the exact location. The development of left-sided (most...
Congenital Mitral Valve Dysplasia in Cats
Congenital Mitral Valve Dysplasia is a condition where the mitral valve (separating the left atrium and left ventricle) did not form correctly at birth. As a result, the valve does not close (coapt) normally. This poor coaptation allows reverse blood flow (left...
Reverse Patent Ductus Arteriosus (rPDA) in Cats
A right to left Patent Ductus Arteriosus (Reversed PDA or rPDA) is a congenital defect where the ductus arteriosus (fetal vascular connection) remains present after birth. The pulmonary pressures rise dramatically due to a problem within the lungs (Eisenmenger’s...
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) in Cats
A Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital defect where the ductus arteriosus (fetal vascular connection) remains patent after birth. This allows blood to flow from the aorta into the main pulmonary artery. If left untreated, this allows severe fluid...
Arrhythmias
Ventricular Premature Complex in Cats
Ventricular premature complexes may be due to numerous etiologies, which includes; cardiac disease, pericardial effusion, metabolic disease and electrolyte disturbances, tickborne disease, fever, pain, anemia, altered autonomic tone, trauma, sepsis, DIC, splenic...
Atrial Premature Complex in Cats
Atrial premature complexes are often the result of atrial dilation (left or right); however, additional considerations would be mechanical irritation (perihilar lymph node enlargement, atrial/auricular mass, heart base tumor, pericardial disease, etc.),...
Atrial Fibrilation in Cats
Atrial fibrillation is a condition where the atrium (top chambers of the heart) are no longer allowing organized electrical activity. Rather, there is a random oscillation of electrical waves that do not allow the atrium to contract as they should. The...
Frequently asked questions
Where do I take my pet to be treated?
We are a concierge service, meaning – we come to the comfort of your trusted veterinary office!
Do I call to schedule you OR does my vet do that?
Contact your trusted veterinary office. They will coordinate their team and ours to bring us in and get answers!
Do I need to be present during the evaluation?
You are welcome to be present for the evaluation, but advanced scheduling is required to make this happen.
This means you will have a known appointment time and Dr. Maran will personally walk you through the exam, findings, and treatment plan
How much does it cost?
Your trusted veterinary office can provide an appropriate estimate based on the necessary diagnostics and appointment type.
Please contact your trusted veterinary office for more details and their expected diagnostic plan.
Additional diagnostics, such as radiographs or laboratory studies, may be recommended prior to or following the cardiac assessment and this can also lead cost to vary.
We provide the love and care to any pet, without exception. Your best friends are in good hands!
Olympic Veterinary Cardiology
Phone: 425.409.1545
Fax: 425.740.0169
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