What does a Grade 3 heart murmur mean in cats?
medium-intensity
Grade 3: This heart murmur is considered medium-intensity. Grade 4: Vets detect a loud murmur. Grade 5: This strong murmur often produces what’s referred to as a ‘thrill’—a vibration vets feel on a cat’s chest. Grade 6: Considered quite uncommon, this heart murmur in cats can be heard without a stethoscope.
How serious is a Grade 3 heart murmur in a cat?
Loud heart murmurs (Grade 3-4/6 to 6/6) in a new puppy or kitty and soft heart murmurs that persist beyond 14-16 weeks of age should be evaluated by a cardiologist. This may indicate that congenital (present at birth) heart disease is present.
What is a Grade 3 heart murmur?
Grade III murmurs have a loudness that falls in the middle of grades II and IV. Most murmurs that cause serious problems are at least a grade III. Grade IV murmurs are loud and can be heard on either side of the chest.
How long do cats live with heart murmurs?
In most cases, the disease will continue to progress over time and heart function will become compromised. Cats that develop heart failure have a guarded prognosis and survival times are usually estimated to be 12 to 18 months after diagnosis.
When should I worry about a heart murmur in my cat?
However, the clinical signs may be subtle and not noticeable until the disease becomes advanced. The most common symptoms that are observed with a cat that has a clinically significant heart murmur are poor appetite, weight loss (or stunted growth in a kitten), breathing problems, pale gums, lethargy, or weakness.
How can I help my cat with a heart murmur?
If the murmur is caused by a congenital condition, surgery may be recommended. In other cases, the heart murmur may remain, but medications can help make your cat more comfortable and improve your pet’s longevity.
Can a cat with a heart murmur live a long life?
Many healthy cats with a heart murmur never develop any problems with the heart’s function and go on to lead long and healthy lives. The prognosis depends on the cause of the heart murmur. Cats can be affected by a range of heart disorders.
How serious is a heart murmur in a cat?
What is the prognosis for cats with a heart murmur? Prognosis depends on the cause of the heart murmur. It is typically excellent for benign murmurs, but prognosis is often grave when there is severe heart disease. Your cat’s long-term prognosis will also depend on their response to any treatment needed.
How do heart murmurs affect cats?
The most common symptoms that are observed with a cat that has a clinically significant heart murmur are poor appetite, weight loss (or stunted growth in a kitten), breathing problems, pale gums, lethargy, or weakness.
Is a heart murmur life threatening in cats?
There’s a number of conditions that can cause heart murmurs in cats. Some of them are benign and might not affect your pet’s health, while others are serious and potentially life-threatening.
Do heart murmurs in cats cause pain?
And there are cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that never develop congestive heart failure or exhibit any clinical signs of heart disease. Cats with HCM may form a blood clot which can block a blood vessel causing severe pain and distress.
Can cat heart murmurs go away?
This can be due to an innocent heart murmur in kittens that usually disappears over 6 months or from stress and elevated heart rate that corrects once the cat is calm. Functional heart murmurs are also caused by some systemic issues outside of the heart, such as anemia and hyperthyroidism.
What is a Grade 1 heart murmur in a cat?
Grade Levels. Vets grade heart murmurs on a scale of 1 to 5, from the barely audible grade 1 to the very loud grade 5. According to Claws and Paws Veterinary Hospital, a veterinarian listening to a cat’s chest with her stethoscope can barely hear the grade 1 murmur but clearly makes out the grade 2.
How can you tell if a kitten has a heart murmur?
These might include weight loss, lack of appetite, trouble breathing, pale mucous membranes and lethargy. Heart murmurs in kittens often disappear by the time of puberty, about 6 months of age. Vets grade heart murmurs on a scale of 1 to 5, from the barely audible grade 1 to the very loud grade 5.
How long does it take for a heart murmur in cats to heal?
The course of treatment will be determined based on the associated clinical signs. Kittens with low grade murmurs, for example, may require little or no treatment and the murmur may resolve itself within six months. Routine diagnostic imaging is recommended for cats with murmurs.
What is an innocent or physiologic heart murmur?
“An innocent or physiologic heart murmur is a heart murmur that has no impact on the cat’s health.”. An innocent or physiologic heart murmur is a heart murmur that has no impact on the cat’s health.