Experts of consider hypertrophic cardiomyopathy a silent killer of cats. In fact, it is the most common form of disease that affect the heart of cats. The name of the condition literally refers to a thickened heart muscles. As the muscles of the heart thicken, there is a subsequent decrease in the size of the chambers of the heart. HCM is a genetic disease to which some purebreds are predisposed to to. These purebreds include Persian cats, ragdoll, oriental, American shorthair, and Bengal cats. However, the condition is most commonly diagnosed in domestic shorthair cats. There are some cases in which HCM is a secondary finding in an underlying health issue, such as hyperthyroidism. If this is the case, there is need to treat the primary condition first to improve the prognosis. Most cats with HCM are asymptomatic, meaning they don’t manifest any signs of the problem. Minor symptoms are often overlooked by pet owners and affected cats can just collapse and die suddenly without showing other symptoms. Cats suffering from HCM have been shown to have higher risks of developing aortic thromboembolism, a blood clot that prevent the flow of blood to the hind legs, which can eventually lead to paralysis and death.
Sudden changes in your pet’s health and/or behavior, even though how subtle they may be, should be checked out by your veterinarian Columbia, MD.
