Research: http://icatcare.org/advice/cat-health/cardiomyopathy-heart-disease-cats http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/Health_Information/HeartDisease.cfm Meta Description: Heart disease can affect cats as well as humans. Here are the signs and symptoms you need to watch out for, along with information on diagnosis and treatment.
Meta Key Words: Cat heart disease, Feline heart disease, Pet heart disease, Heart disease cats
Cardiomyopathy in Cats—What to Watch Out For
Human and dog heart disease may be more common, but cats can suffer from heart disease as well. The type of heart disease that our feline friends are vulnerable to is different than the type that affects both dogs and people, however. Where human beings and dogs can be affected by various conditions that cause leaky valves, or a buildup of arterial plaque, …show more content…
Fortunately though, these underlying causes share common symptoms. What follows is a quick rundown of the types of feline heart diseases, common underlying conditions, and symptoms you can watch out for so that your cat lives the longest, healthiest, and happiest life possible.
Types of Feline Cardiomyopathy
There are four basic types of feline heart disease. They are: dilated, restrictive, hypertrophic, and intermediate cardiomyopathy. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common type of feline heart disease and involves a thickening of the muscle wall of the heart, which restricts blood flow and makers it harder for the heart to relax between beats.
Dilated cardiomyopathy involves a thinning of the heart muscle that make it difficult for the heart to contract effectively. Restrictive cardiomyopathy is typically caused by a fibrous growth in the heart’s muscle wall that renders surrounding tissue inelastic. And intermediate cardiomyopathy is a combination of two or more of these types of feline heart disease.
Underlying