Cardiomyopathy:
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive Cardiomyopathy Heart Disease, Heart Muscle Failure
Affected Animals: Dogs and Cats
Information and Overview:
Cardiomyopathy is a term that is used to describe diseases of the heart muscle. There are many types of heart disease, and cardiomyopathies are associated the the hearts muscle and its function. All are generally associated with the hearts inability to successfully pump the volume of blood needed by the body´s vital organs. Just like humans, cats and dogs can have heart disease for a long time before developing heart failure. Heart failure occurs when the heart is no longer able to pump enough blood to supply the tissues with the oxygen they require. The right side, left side, or both sides of the heart can fail, causing a number of complications. One of the most severe forms of heart failure occurs when the lungs fill with fluid, a condition called pulmonary edema. This is a direct result of the heart not pumping blood effectively through the lungs. Excessive pressure builds up behind the pump, and fluid leaks into the air spaces in the lungs. This causes in general, an animal drowning in its own fluids, which inhibits the exchange of oxygen between the lungs and the blood. If uncorrected, pulmonary edema leads to multiple organ failure and death due to the lack of oxygen to needy cells. Aortic thromboembolism is a problem most seen in cats, which is caused by a blood clot in the heart that breaks free and travels through the blood stream. Most commonly, the clot lodges at the branch of the aorta that feeds the back legs, shutting down blood flow and causing partial or complete paralysis. This condition is excruciatingly painful and requires immediate medical attention. Cats experiencing an aortic thromboembolism will be unable to move their back legs and may vocalize due to the pain. Aortic thromboembolism usually indicates significant heart disease; two thirds of cats that develop this condition will die or be put to death humanely. In cats that survive aortic thromboembolism, recurrence is common. Diagnosis of general heart enlargement can be seen on chest x-rays, but to determine whether the heart disease is hypertrophic, dilated, restrictive, or secondary to valvular disease, an ultrasound of the heart must be done.
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