Cardiomyopathy in cats. How terrible is such a diagnosis as heart failure in a cat

Heart failure in cats, like in humans, is a severe diagnosis that needs to be lived with. The heart is a kind of engine of the whole organism. It pumps blood, without which no other organ can function. Lungs and heart - this is the trio, without which the death of the whole organism will come. Today we will tell you in detail about the main symptoms and treatments for heart failure in cats.

For some reason, the heart of a pet may sometimes not perform all its functions. This leads to a "failure" of the work of the whole organism as a whole. And if heart problems are not noticed in time, heart failure will develop. But everything starts small, gradually “gaining strength”.

This disease in cats, the symptoms of which are not familiar to many, is associated with a complex of disorders. The wrong rhythm in which the heart muscle contracts in this pathology disrupts blood circulation throughout the body. Uncontrolled seizures“eat up” all the energy that can barely cope with the supply of oxygen and the necessary nutrients to tissues and organs. Therefore, pathology is considered very dangerous. And it's in calm state. But as soon as the animal starts to run, symptoms of asphyxia appear (lack of oxygen, suffocation).

This is interesting! Cats suffer from acute heart failure less frequently than humans. This is facilitated by nutrition and the specificity of biochemical processes in the animal's body.

Pathology is more common in individuals older than 6 years of age. But it happens that the symptoms of the disease appear in kittens as early as six months. Therefore, it is a mistake to believe that only old animals suffer from heart failure. Small puppies and kittens can also hear this terrible diagnosis. And there are a number of reasons for this.

There are several types of heart failure in cats. Along the course, there is acute and chronic heart failure. But they also talk about congenital or acquired insufficiency. In addition, there are primary and secondary (heart problems occur after infectious diseases).

It is worth knowing about the predisposition of some breeds to the development of diseases. of cardio-vascular system. Large breeds cats (for example, Maine Coon and others) are more likely than others to develop diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Causes of heart failure

The causes of heart failure in cats can be very diverse, but for the most part, the onset is “taken” from heart diseases (of a wide variety). For example, congenital malformations, myocarditis, pericarditis, cardiomyopathy. A little more about her.

Hypertrophic

The most common form of cardiomyopathy. With this type of heart failure, the heart muscle increases in size several times, and the ventricular myocardium increases mainly. This leads to the fact that the volume of the ventricle of the heart decreases. As a result, there is less blood in it, but the body needs oxygen! Therefore, the myocardium has to contract more often, it rests less. But rest is necessary. Hence the “fatigue” of the muscle, followed by heart failure in dogs and cats.

Dilated cardiomyopathy

With this type of heart failure in cats and dogs, the wall of the ventricle does not thicken, but stretches. But despite the fact that the volume of the ventricle increases and there is a lot of blood in the heart, all the same normal function hearts broken. The myocardium cannot fully contract, thereby throwing all the blood out of the ventricle. Part of it "stagnates", which further stretches the walls.

Restrictive

In this case, the muscles are like “wooden”, they practically do not stretch. Their elasticity is lost. And, despite the fact that the volume of the ventricle does not change, but the myocardium cannot cope. It is not elastic, it is extremely difficult for him to contract.

Intermediate

A very complex type of cardiomyopathy. And all because it is not always possible to diagnose it, because changes from various kinds cardiomyopathy.

• Age. Where do without him. Older people are more likely to suffer from various kinds deficiencies. All this is elementarily explained by the fact that organs “get tired” throughout their life, become “targets” for pathogens of infectious diseases. And the heart is experiencing a crazy load.
• Large animals have the hardest time, because the heart, like a pump, needs to pump a lot of blood under high pressure. But also miniature breeds unsweetened, because their “motor” beats with a much greater frequency, and this decently “wears out” the heart muscle.
• Infectious diseases. Often they lead to the fact that the heart suffers.
• If the thyroid gland is too "active", it produces too much hormone.
• High blood pressure. Among animals, too, there are hypertensive patients.
• Wrong diet. Salt should not be!
• Toxins, drugs. All this is in the blood, which will definitely be in the heart. Poisons "settle", destroy the myocardium.
• Genetics (predisposition also affects, it was written about above). The tendency to heart disease is inherited. That's why it's so important to know who your pet's parents are.

Symptoms of heart failure in cats

Symptoms of heart failure in cats depend on many factors. One of which is the age of the animal.

Chronic heart failure in cats appears gradually. Symptoms do not appear all at once and increase slowly. Therefore, even the most attentive owners may not immediately notice the disease. Often the limbs and the dewlap area swell.

How to diagnose a disease

For the treatment to positive results The diagnosis should be carried out by an experienced veterinarian - a cardiologist. It usually includes:

1. Blood and urine tests.
2. X-ray examination chest.

If a cat has been diagnosed with heart failure, then it is recommended to protect it from breeding, since the disease is often inherited.

Among other things, the development of this anomaly in an animal is determined using the following methods:

Collection of a complete anamnesis (data about the pet from the owner). It is important to prepare and provide the veterinarian with detailed comprehensive information, it is best to bring them to the appointment at writing so as not to miss important details about the health and life of a pet.

Listening, palpation and other methods of visual and physical examination. Even by measuring the animal's pressure, you can come across a sign of the disease: lower rates usually indicate the presence serious problems with heart.

How to provide first aid for heart failure

If you do not immediately come to the aid of a pet when acute attack heart failure, he can die suddenly.

You need to act measuredly, but quickly, as follows:

• lay the pet head to one side;
• remove the tongue from the mouth;
• apply a cool compress prepared in advance to the cat’s head;
• try to bring the animal to life by bringing a cotton ball soaked in ammonia;
• paws should be held above the head in order to increase blood flow to it.

Treatment of cats with heart failure

Any treatment for a cat with symptoms of heart failure should be supervised. veterinarian! Self-medication can not only aggravate the course of the disease, but also lead to the death of the animal! Be sure to find out the cause of the ailment!

Ignoring the problem over time can lead to irreversible changes in the heart and blood vessels.

Owners are required to reduce walks (no more than 20 minutes at a time), at least physical activity and stress. And diet is very important. You will have to limit salt, drink, as this provokes the formation of edema.

If we talk about drug therapy, then the treatment will be lifelong. The heart needs to be supported. To do this, the veterinarian may prescribe medications to treat a cat with heart failure, such as: cardiac glycosides, potassium supplements. Drugs that prevent blood from clotting (anticoagulants). Diuretics help to remove from the body excess liquid, reduce swelling.

It is necessary to strictly follow all medical prescriptions and recommendations. The slightest deviation from the treatment regimen will negate all progress on the path to recovery. heart rate, and continuation of the course may in some cases become hazardous to health.

How to act so that the kitten never encounters this disease? First of all, care must be taken that affected cats do not produce offspring. Or, when choosing a pet, check its pedigree for registration of cases of cardiac anomalies, and if any are found, do not acquire a “pig in a poke”.

But even a healthy animal must be cared for, making sure that the cat eats rationally and leads active image life. A balanced amount of nutrients will help to avoid pet obesity, which is often observed in lazy neutered cats, which need to be monitored more closely. Obesity is also prevented by regular walks with games on the street, which are also useful for the respiratory, and, therefore, the heart system. In addition, cardiac problems may worsen in adult cats after general anesthesia. Therefore, before the operation involving it, the animal must be carefully examined.

How long a cat with heart failure will live depends only on how badly the heart is affected and how qualified veterinary care is provided to the animal. Self-medication is extremely dangerous. Due to incorrectly prescribed drugs, the animal may develop pulmonary edema, and in combination with heart failure, this will lead to the death of the animal. It should be understood that medicines to treat a cat / dog with heart failure will have to be given for the rest of the pet's life. If cardiomyopathy has developed, then, alas, it is forever. But the owner, together with the veterinarian, is able to make life easier for the mustache.

Do you have any questions? You can ask them to our website staff veterinarian in the comment box below, which in as soon as possible will answer them.

Heart failure is the inability to pump the heart needed by the body blood volume. This disease occurs as a result of infectious diseases. Heart failure is the most common cause of sudden death in pets. Not only dogs, but also cats suffer from it.

Types of heart failure:

1. Chronic heart failure. It develops slowly, sometimes imperceptibly, but at the same time, steadily.
2. Acute heart failure develops quite rapidly, its time varies from several minutes to several hours.

As a result acute form, the cat instantly develops, the symptoms of which may be bleeding from the mouth and nose, as well as shortness of breath.

Symptoms of heart disease in cats are not always visible, and she cannot complain about her well-being. Therefore, the health of the pet is completely in the hands of the owner. He must monitor the pet and, upon discovering the first symptoms of the disease, must seek the advice of a veterinarian.

In a cat, rapid breathing with tongue hanging out is a sign of heart disease.

• Fatigue is difficult to notice in a cat, as it leads a mostly calm lifestyle.
• Dyspnea. Breathing takes place in the abdomen, without the participation of the chest.
• An attack accompanied by loss of consciousness. The cat, at this time, can be mistaken for a dead animal. Usually the attack passes quickly, but it happens that the pets die, as their body experiences an acute lack of oxygen.
• The animal wheezes, scary meows.
• Heavy breathing indicates pulmonary edema.
• Complete or partial paralysis of the hind legs.
• Cardiopalmus.
• Gingival cyanosis.
• Loss of appetite.

In cats, coughing is not a heart symptom.

First aid for a cat with fainting

The attack that has begun needs quick and right action host, as, sometimes, it can be fatal.

1. Put the cat, and it is necessary to give it a lateral position of the head.
2. Pull out tongue.
3. Put a cool compress on your head.
4. Bring a piece of cotton wool soaked in ammonia to the nose.
5. The paws must be fixed above the head, so there will be more blood flow to the head.
6. Call the vet.

How to distinguish a healthy cat from a sick one

Since cats generally lead a calm lifestyle, they are couch potatoes, not all owners can distinguish a healthy animal from a sick one. She can report all changes in her state of health by a change in behavior, that is, if the cat used to stay independent of the owner, and now does not leave him, then this indicates that something is bothering her.

Some people think it's a sign of health. This is wrong. Purring, abruptly replaced by aggression or growling, indicates that she is in pain.

A healthy animal has:

• Smooth wool.
• The nose is wet and cold.
• The mucous membranes of the eyes are pinkish.
• The animal is alert and active.

sick animal:

• Sluggish, lies more than usual.
• He tries to get away from everyone in a secluded place.
• Can be very aroused.
• Meowing is pathetic.
• The movements are clumsy.
• The nose is warm with cracks.

Causes of heart failure

1. Congenital cardiac pathologies. In cats, they are quite rare, about 2% of all cases.
2. Diseases of the heart muscle caused by infectious diseases.
3. Cardiomyopathy, which is caused by an inadequate diet of cats. They tend to get less taurine, which is part of raw fish and meat. During cooking, it collapses.
4. Heartworms, their larvae are found in mosquitoes. They are microscopic in size. During a mosquito bite, their larvae enter the animal's blood and settle in pulmonary artery. Heartworms can be up to 30 centimeters in size. By his presence in circulatory system they interfere with the outflow of blood and cause tremendous damage to the arteries. Adult individuals entangle the heart, thereby interfering with its full-fledged work. You can detect heartworms with a blood test.
5. Age hormonal changes. Heart failure is thought to occur in cats older than 6 years of age.
6. Metabolic disease. Sometimes it leads to improperly constructed food.

Cats should be periodically examined for the presence of heartworms, this will help to avoid heart disease. A lack of taurine, noticed in a timely manner, must be introduced into the feed of cats, due to which the vital activity of the heart muscle is restored.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis should be carried out by a qualified veterinary cardiologist in order to prescribe proper treatment. It usually includes:

• Blood analysis.
• Analysis of urine.
• Chest X-ray.

If a cat has been diagnosed with heart failure, then it should be excluded from planning for breeding offspring, since important role plays a hereditary factor.

Treatment and care

Treatment of cats from this disease depends on the severity of the course of the disease. Sometimes it is carried out exclusively in the conditions of a daily stay in a veterinary clinic. Cats do not undergo heart surgery. They, during illness, are assigned only drug treatment. The sooner they are diagnosed with heart failure, the more likely they are to survive. For recovery it is necessary:

• Complete peace of mind. The pet must be limited from any stress - it can be a working vacuum cleaner, a trip to public transport or the arrival of guests.
• Treatment with diuretics removes excess fluid from the body. Fluid during illness can accumulate near the lungs, thereby causing swelling. In the chest, causing pleurisy. IN abdominal cavity causing ascites. Reducing the amount of fluid in the body helps reduce the workload on the heart.
• Treatment with ACE inhibitors, which reduce the workload on the heart by increasing blood flow.
• Positive inotropes make the heart pump harder, control the heartbeat, slow it down so that it throws more blood into the body.
• When the fluid content in the body of cats is greatly increased, the veterinarian will pump out and, thereby, remove it from the body. The cat will feel relieved for a while, but this will not last long, as the liquid will return back. Pumping is carried out by inserting a sterile needle into the desired location.
• Balanced diet.

Heart failure in an animal requires careful care:

• Cats need food that is low in salt. Salt retains water in the body, which leads to poor blood circulation.
• Feed with high content taurine and protein.
• Heart failure means regular veterinary consultations and ongoing treatment.

Prevention

Cats with heart failure need prophylaxis to keep them active. It is necessary to try to "stir up" animals leading a "sofa" lifestyle. Obese cats are at risk for heart disease. It is necessary to monitor the correct nutrition of the pet. An annual check-up by the veterinarian will protect him from heart disease.

Also prone to heart disease are sphinxes, British, Persian, Scottish cats, maine coons. This does not mean that all cats of these breeds, sooner or later, have heart problems. Such a statement means that in representatives of these breeds, heart disease manifests itself at an earlier age.

Heart failure in neutered cats is quite common because these animals are very lazy. They drive sedentary image life and are obese.

Need to increased attention give, as they are more prone to heart disease.

The diagnosis of heart failure in cats is not a sentence. The main thing is to notice the first symptoms of the disease in time, to conduct regular examinations and treatment. Monitor your pet's diet. With proper care and care, a cat can please its owner with caress and beauty for a long time.

Heart disease, both in dogs and cats, is quite common. They are both congenital and acquired (age-related).

Dogs

A disease such as heart disease in a dog occurs in 15 cases out of 100. There are congenital heart defects and acquired ones (due to age or excessive physical exertion).

Types of disease

Congenital heart defects include:

1. open ductus arteriosus. This defect is typical for such breeds as Rottweiler, Poodle, Chihuahua, German Shepherd, Labrador, Doberman Pinscher and others. This disease can only be treated surgically. The prognosis is positive, if there are no secondary changes in the right side of the heart muscle.
2. defect interatrial septum . The essence of this defect is in poor development or total absence connective tissue between the atria. It is typical for Doberman Pinschers, Boxers and Medium Poodles. Unfortunately, surgery in Russia is not practiced, and therapeutic does not give the desired effect. Animals with this pathology do not live long.
3. defect interventricular septum . A disease similar to the previous one, differing only in the location of the defect. Typical for breeds such as the Doberman Pinscher, English bulldog, boxer and some others. The prognosis is unfavorable. Animals do not live long.
4. pulmonary stenosis. This defect affects the Doberman Pinscher, French and English Bulldogs, Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux and others. In severe cases of the disease, it is possible surgical intervention, however, the mortality of dogs after and during the operation is very high.
5. aortic stenosis (English Bulldog, Boxer, Labrador, Mastiff, Rottweiler). Treatment is similar, the prognosis is poor.
6. The most severe combined heart disease Fallot's tetrad. He is subject to the English Bulldog. Animals with this congenital disease rarely live up to one year.

Symptoms

- Heart vibrations;

- Rapid or intermittent pulse;

- Drowsiness and weakness;

- Gums of a bluish color;

- weight loss.

Cough is not the main symptom in determining heart disease.

Forecast

It should be remembered that if the dog birth defect heart, and not acquired as a result natural aging organism, the prognosis is almost always unfavorable. Most animals die at the age of six months to two or three years.

Treatment

By and large, the treatment of heart defects in dogs is meaningless, because it is reduced only to maintenance therapy, which only alleviates the disorder of the heart, but does not eliminate the very cause.

cats

Unlike most active dogs, cats are couch potatoes. It is very difficult to notice interruptions in the work of the heart. Percent birth defects heart muscle is very small, no more than 3%. Kittens with this pathology rarely survive to adulthood due to frequent diseases, including infectious ones. As mentioned above, heart disease in cats, as a rule, is acquired after endocarditis suffered during life, and appears closer to old age. This is not immediately noticeable, cats spend little time in active physical activity, so it is extremely difficult for an unprepared owner to notice the beginning of the process.

Symptoms

In cats clinical picture It is extremely weakly expressed, therefore, unlike dogs, the symptoms of heart disease in cats are not always visible to the naked eye. So, a tight stomach, noisy breathing after minor physical exertion can be signs of disorders on the left side of the heart. fast fatigue and poor appetite may also indicate heart problems. Cats suffer from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Maine Coons, Siberian cats, Sphynxes, Bengals are especially susceptible to this disease.

Cats have the same heart defects as dogs, with the exception of open ductus arteriosus, which cats rarely get sick.

Diagnostics of all diseases is complex. It is necessary to conduct an examination using specialized equipment - echocardiography.

Treatment

Treatment of all heart defects is symptomatic, aimed at compensating cardiac activity. First of all, it is peace, according to the symptoms, a diuretic or laxative, cardiac glycosides, diet, lack of stress and excessive physical activity.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats

veterinarian,

clinic cardiologist White Fang» — Mitino

The most common heart disease in cats is the so-called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(GKMP). This is a pathology of the heart, accompanied by a pronounced thickening of the heart muscle (myocardium) and leading to the development of heart failure, up to death.

A distinctive feature of this disease is the insidious development of symptoms and the difficulty in treating late stages.

Blame heredity

The reasons for the development of this disease are still not well understood, however, a number of studies have identified genetically inherited abnormalities that can lead to the development of HCM. At the same time, it has been proved that representatives of the following breeds: Maine Coon. ragdoll, sphynx, british and american shorthair, scottish fold, norwegian forest cat and possibly some others.

The mechanisms of inheritance of this disease have not yet been fully studied, but it has been proven that, for example, in the Maine Coon breed, HCM is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. At the same time, special tests (blood tests) are even common abroad for the presence of corresponding deviations in the genotype in cats of this breed. In the UK, for example, one in three Maine Coons are positive for HCM.

Hidden killer

The mechanism of development of this pathology is that as the heart muscle thickens, the volume of the left ventricle decreases, as a result of which the volume of blood pumped through it decreases. Stagnation develops, leading first to an increase in the left atrium, pulmonary veins, and then, in later stages, to the development of pulmonary edema and / or hydrothorax (accumulation of free fluid in pleural cavity). Moreover, the insidiousness of this disease lies in the fact that the first symptom may be pulmonary edema and / or death. In some cases, symptoms such as shortness of breath (breathing with an open mouth) and poor tolerance loads.

One of the most frequent complications HCM, sometimes manifesting against the background of the absolute visible well-being of a cat, is thromboembolism. Expansion of the left atrium and stagnation of blood leads to an increased risk of blood clots, which in turn lead to blockage of vital vessels and sometimes lethal outcome, especially in the case of late application for veterinary care. Most often, blockage occurs at the level of the femoral arteries, in which case the first symptom will be sudden paralysis of the pelvic limbs and severe pain syndrome- the cat screams and does not get up on hind legs. In such cases, the count goes to hours, if not minutes. The sooner the patient arrives at a specialized clinic, the greater the chance of restoring blood flow and minimizing the risk of complications.

Early diagnosis of the disease and its significance

Given all of the above, timely diagnosis is extremely important. The sooner the doctor starts treatment, the longer the patient can live and the less the risk of developing adverse complications.

by the most exact method diagnosis of HCM is ECHO-cardiography - ultrasonography heart by a cardiologist. However, in some cases, additional chest X-ray and electrocardiography are also important.

During ultrasound examination the doctor conducts a series of measurements and calculations, while obtaining clear objective data, on the basis of which a conclusion is made whether the patient has a pathology or not, whether there is a risk of its development in the future.

Moreover, considering increased risks, representatives of the breeds described above, it is especially important to undergo such an examination. Evidence of the special importance of this problem is, for example, the fact that in countries Western Europe it is forbidden by law to use in breeding or for sale cats of risk group breeds that do not pass regular examinations a cardiologist for the presence of HCM (HCM-screening tests). According to the results of such tests (ECHO-KG), a certificate is issued to the cat confirming that it does not have signs of a dangerous pathology. Similar tests with the issuance of a certificate for English language carried out in our clinic. The results of such tests are recognized foreign colleagues. As a rule, such examinations in breeding cats are carried out annually, starting from the second year of life.

In addition, if you are the owner of a cat of one of the risk group breeds or have sometimes noticed in your pet (no matter what breed) the symptoms described above and are going to do general anesthesia(for example, regarding castration or sterilization), it is highly advisable to undergo an examination by a cardiologist before anesthesia for the absence of HCM in your pet. Unfortunately, cases of serious complications (up to pulmonary edema and death) are not uncommon. postoperative period(the first 2 weeks after anesthesia) in patients with a latent form of HCM.

Treatment of HCM

If the doctor still detects HCM in a patient, do not despair. There are modern efficient schemes treatment of this disease, especially effective in identifying the disease on early stage. The drug of choice for such patients are, first of all, drugs of the beta-blocker group. also, if necessary, drugs are prescribed for the prevention of thromboembolism, diuretics, blockers calcium channels, ACE inhibitors, etc. However, it is important to remember that the treatment should be prescribed by the attending doctor according to the examination, you should not self-medicate and get carried away " folk remedies". The intake of drugs should be permanent, the patient must be shown for scheduled follow-up examinations and not interrupt the prescribed treatment regimen.

GKMP and tribal business

It is extremely important to understand that if a cat is diagnosed with HCM, you must immediately remove it from breeding plans and check the entire line, in order to avoid further spread of the disease.

Our clinic has accumulated extensive experience in diagnosing and treating patients with a diagnosis of HCM. We have everything at our disposal necessary equipment and experts to help you with early diagnosis and treatment of this serious disease.

SIGNS OF A DISEASED CAT

Cats can't complain about how they feel, so their health is in your hands. You must carefully monitor your animal, and at the first sign of malaise, changes appearance or behavior to check if the cat is sick. Any deviation from normal behavior is cause for concern.

If your cat is normally independent, and then suddenly seeks your company and does not leave you a single step, or, conversely, does not leave his place all day, then try to find out what happened. Do not think that purring for a cat is a sign of health. Purring can sometimes indicate pain or discomfort. Unexpected aggressiveness of the always calm and accommodating cat can be caused by pain, fever, concussion, infection, head injury, seizures, diabetic crisis, which requires medical intervention.

A few words about what a healthy animal looks like.

At healthy cat excellent appetite, smooth and shiny wool, cold and damp nose (during sleep it can be dry and warm), mucous membranes are pink and moderately moist. Vigor and mobility are also signs of the health of the animal. Important criteria Health assessments are temperature, pulse and respiratory rate.

At disease the cat's behavior changes. She becomes lethargic, lies more than usual, looks sad, tries to hide in a quiet darkened place, reluctantly responds to the call or, on the contrary, is too excited, constantly moves around the apartment, meows plaintively or shows aggression. Movements can become awkward, their coordination is disturbed. Signs of the onset of the disease are also fast fatiguability, loss of appetite, perhaps the cat does not eat anything, insomnia, or vice versa - increased drowsiness.

Normal temperature from 38 to 39 degrees (in small kittens - up to 39.6 degrees, and in sphinxes - up to 41.5). A rise in temperature above 40 may indicate the onset of the disease. But we should also not forget that the body temperature of the animal rises with excitement and fright, after physical exertion, as well as in hot weather, in case of poisoning, after electric shock or due to hyperfunction. thyroid gland.

Remember or write down normal temperature your cat's body at rest.

Pulse reflects the frequency and rhythm of the heartbeat, as well as the strength of the shocks of the heart muscle. At rest, a healthy cat's heart rate ranges from 110 to 150 beats per minute. At big cats and animals leading a more relaxed lifestyle, the heartbeat is slow. An increased pulse occurs with an increase in temperature, with inflammatory processes, physical exertion, with overexcitation, fear and hot weather. In kittens and cats of small breeds, the pulse rate can reach 200 beats per minute, in cats the pulse is less than in cats.

Calculate and record your cat's resting heart rate - this will help you determine in the future if its frequency has changed in a given situation. It is enough to calculate the number of shocks in 15 seconds, and then multiply the resulting value by 4.

Frequency breathing it is convenient to identify cats by the movements of the chest, abdominal wall or nostrils. Normally, it ranges from 20 to 30 respiratory movements in a minute. Kittens and young animals, whose metabolism is more active than adults, breathe more frequently than adult cats, and females breathe more frequently than males. In addition, pregnant or lactating cats breathe at a higher rate than normal. Respiratory rate is also affected by the size and genetic factors: small cats breathe more often than large ones, which is explained by more high level metabolism and, accordingly, increased heat loss. Changes in your cat's breathing rate can be caused by fear, pain, shock, or respiratory problems. It should also be borne in mind that breathing quickens in hot weather, during physical exertion, and when the cat is excited. The breathing of a healthy animal after exercise is restored in a few minutes. Difficulty breathing can be caused by heat stroke or, in rare cases, lack of calcium in the blood during lactation in females. The animal can suffocate with heart failure, with inflammation genitourinary system, as well as when swallowing a foreign object.

coat becomes ruffled, dull, may experience increased shedding, discoloration (jaundice) or elasticity of the skin.

A sick cat has discharge (purulent, mucous, etc.) from the nose, eyes, mouth and other organs. Colorless discharge may indicate anemia, yellowish discharge may indicate liver damage, bloody discharge indicates serious infections or poisoning, bluish - for heart failure or disorders in the circulatory system.

Nasal mirror (nose) dry, constantly warm (sign elevated temperature), skin with cracks, mucopurulent discharge from the nostrils, the formation of dry crusts, a whitened lobe (a sign of anemia) are sure signs of a cat's illness.

An affected cat may experience various eye discharge(transparent, purulent, mucous, etc.), squinting and lacrimation can reflect pain in the eye, in a number of diseases, yellowness of the mucous membrane, inflammation of the eyelids is observed. With conjunctivitis, poisoning, and some other cases, the eyes are sometimes half-closed by the third eyelid.

Concerning oral cavity . with the disease, increased salivation may be observed, it is noted bad smell from the mouth, gums and tongue covered with plaque or sores. The mucous membranes of the mouth, eyelids are pale, cyanotic or icteric.

Digestion may also be violated. Activity gastrointestinal tract changed: vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, painful defecation, accumulation of gases in the intestine are noted. IN feces appear foreign objects(wool, worms, etc.). Drops of blood in feces (normally they should be Brown) also indicate a serious internal pathology- usually for bleeding in the large intestine. ABOUT stomach bleeding, or bleeding in the anterior intestine, indicates tarry feces of a dark, almost black color. Clarified feces are a sign of liver disease (lack of bile, etc.). Foamy feces are an indicator of a bacterial infection.

From the side genitourinary system may be celebrated following deviations: increased urination, urinary incontinence, lack of urination, painful bowel movements Bladder, change in color (normal urine is yellow) and amount of urine, unpleasant odor, mucopurulent discharge from the genitals, hunched back, stiff gait, pain in the lumbar region. The fact that the cat has problems with the kidneys may also indicate sweet smell from mouth. Diseases that make it difficult to urinate and pass food can be a tumor, prostate hypertrophy, hemorrhoids, cystitis, urolithiasis.

Breath becomes frequent or, conversely, rare and cautious (with soreness), wheezing, sniffling, coughing, shortness of breath appear. Shortness of breath in a cat can be caused by increased exercise, asthma, inflammation or emphysema, which, in turn, is a consequence of poisoning. Difficulty breathing is observed with pleurisy, heart failure, anemia, heartworms. In older cats, coughing may be a sign of heart failure.

lymphatic system. Increased sizes lymph nodes, as a rule, indicate the presence of an inflammatory process. Often involved in this process submandibular lymph nodes, so you should learn to find them and feel them.

increased thirst may be associated with colds, diabetes, dropsy, kidney failure, or kidney disease, and if physical weakness and smell from the mouth are added to it, then this most likely indicates uremia.

Vomit develops in response to ingestion poisonous herbs and in general with poisoning, with helminthic invasion, trips in transport. Vomiting and increasing physical weakness, combined with constipation, indicate intestinal obstruction and the presence of a foreign body in the intestine.

Jaundice of mucous membranes may be a sign of hepatitis, poisoning, leptospirosis.

Increased salivation occurs when the tongue and oral cavity are damaged, when foreign body into the esophagus, with heat and sunstroke, with poisoning and some liver diseases. It can also be a symptom of terrible disease like madness.

But these signs of diseases, as a rule, do not appear all at the same time: usually one sign is most pronounced, and the rest accompany it (in one or another combination). The improvement in well-being and the recovery of the cat can be judged after the disappearance of all painful manifestations characteristic of a particular disease.

The posture of a cat can also tell a lot. A healthy animal rests or sleeps in a relaxed position, straightening the torso and stretching out the limbs. A sick cat takes a forced posture, which helps to reduce pain or any discomfort. In particular, with heart disease, the cat stands with its forelimbs wide apart - this makes it easier to breathe; the cat keeps the damaged limb on weight; at urolithiasis intermittent lameness is possible on the hind legs on the left or on the right, according to the diseased kidney, etc.

The above symptoms appear in varying degrees, their combination also varies widely. If there is anything about your cat's physical condition or behavior that gives you concern, call your veterinarian or the nearest veterinary clinic (keep these phones always at hand or in a conspicuous place). Perhaps a telephone consultation will be enough to help your pet.

Heart disease is one of common causes premature and sudden death pets. Unfortunately, many heart problems can only be solved by surgery, and such operations are performed in a few clinics in Russia. Therefore, every owner should know the symptoms of heart disease in cats: the earlier failures in the functioning of this organ are detected, the higher the chance of success of conservative treatment.

The heart of a cat is not fundamentally different from the human heart and performs the same functions. There is only one feature - it is smaller in relation to body weight (≈ 0.7% of the total weight). By distilling blood and lymph through the vessels, the heart ensures the delivery of oxygen and useful substances into every cell. Impaired blood circulation impairs the functioning of all organs and systems, and therefore heart disease in cats directly affects the quality and length of life.

Not all, but many heart problems in cats are preventable. High-quality nutrition, walks, daily games have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system. It is extremely important to keep your vaccinations up to date, as some heart diseases in cats develop after transferred infections. To avoid inflammatory processes in the heart as a result of the vital activity of helminths, it is possible if you regularly give your pet a remedy for worms.

Unfortunately, the symptoms of heart disease in cats appear late. At the beginning of the disease, owners rarely notice changes in the condition of the pet, since cats are known sleepyheads, and interruptions in the work of the heart are clearly visible after physical exertion. Therefore, it is important to visit the veterinarian once a year and donate blood for biochemistry. If possible, an ultrasound examination of the cat's heart should be performed annually, which is especially important if the pet has reached a respectable age.