Enlarged Heart

[AlliHille]

The cat love of my life, Pico, is currently at the vet waiting for the cardiologist to do an echocardiogram. He's had a bit of a cough, so I took him in to the vet today and they noticed his lungs sounded strange. They did an xray and saw that his heart was enlarged and that there is fluid in his lungs. I know that these are not good signs. Currently waiting on a call from the vet, meanwhile I'm afraid my heart is breaking.

 

[Sheldon13]

Oh no. I’m so sorry. I get so sick of seeing people get this news. I pray someday soon we can pinpoint all causes and breed it out.

Let us know what you find out.


Love and Sphynx ~ It’s all you need

 

[Beckinboots]

Fingers crossed for the best possible diagnosis.

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Lair Prayers are sent. I will be looking for updates and will be here for you. We have 2 on heart meds and know the drain on the human heart it causes.

 

[AlliHille]

Just picked my baby up. Severe HCM with onset of CHF as I feared. Not sure how to cope with this news yet.

Pico will be 7 this year. For the past six years he has slept in my arms every single night. He’s the best and sweetest cat I’ve ever known. I should have known he was too good for this earth.

They’ve started him on four meds twice a day. Prognosis is not good, of course. A few months to a year at the most, with the risk of sudden death due to blood clots.


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[Catzzzmeow]

Please know we are here for you....I am here for you. Feel free to message me if you need extra support besides the public areas of this amazing community. We have upped meds in our one girl since last week and know every day is special.

 

[Sheldon13]

I’m sorry to say all you can do is your best. Give the meds, report to the vet when there are changes, and if you get the chance to euthanize at the end, take it.

That being said, as some other members like to say, none of us has an expiration date. Every day is a gift and we have to treasure them all. There is no way to know if you have 2 weeks or 2 years, but I know you will make his remaining time on this earth BEAUTIFUL.


Love and Sphynx ~ It’s all you need

 

[pussiette]

I am so very sorry.

 

[Yoda mom]

@AlliHille (((hugs))) and positive vibe head smooches for sweet Pico . so very sorry for the diagnosis. I am glad you have a treatment plan. Pico only knows your love. we are here for you

 

[JessicaRosexo]

I am sorry❤

 

[AlliHille]

Thank you everyone. It is nice to have a supportive community. I always knew this was a possibility. Pico is my first Sphynx. I got him 2014 from a breeder who does not scan. Back then I had no idea HCM was a concern. I now have two Sphynx cats Pico & Matisse from the same breeder. Now I worry about Matisse. Now that I know, I will definitely always make sure my future Sphynx cats come from a breeder who scans.

The hard part now is that I just don't know how much time I'll have with Pico. It's so strange knowing that he has this serious problem, but he continues to act like his same affectionate, energetic self. The dread of knowing that the worst is yet to come is emotionally difficult.

 

[Saskiasaurus]

I'm so so sorry about your news. Big hugs and hoping for the most and best time for you all together xxx

 

[Sanctuarie]

Omg Allihilli, so sorry this is happening to you & your baby.
It's like you're writing about my life a few months ago, almost identical, even down to his age.
I remember my vet doing the same thing, taking an x-ray, and saying that he had a very enlarged heart surrounded by a lot of fluid. He also showed no symptoms, and was his sweet playful self. They gave him several doses of lasix and had me take him to the cardiologist the next day. Cardiologist confirmed that it was end stage HCM and CHF, they said he could go in three days, or last up to to a year. And they also sent me home with 4 medications, which they kept increasing every time he had an episode (every week or two).
I'm not sure if they told you this, but you should keep track of his breaths per minute (while asleep). If they get above 40-45 you should call the vet. The more breaths per minute, the more fluid building up around his heart & in his lungs, making it harder to breathe.
I just went through this exact same thing with my boy, so if you want more details, or advice, feel free to direct message me.
Again, I'm so sorry, and wish you the very very best.

 

[Sheldon13]

There is a great app called “Cardalis” that helps with tracking and trending breathing.


Love and Sphynx ~ It’s all you need

 

[Toa and Ross]

So sorry this is happening. Cherrish every moment with Pico. Sending hugs

 

[AlliHille]

Thank you all so much for your support. It makes me so sad that so many of you have had to experience the horrors of HCM. It’s so hard for me to realize that I will not have my sweet Pico for much longer when he still is so active.

I just start bawling every time he does something sweet. He’s so funny, he likes to do what we call the “upside-down face,” where he turns his head upside down from side to side, and when you do it, he’ll mimic you.

One of the things that led me to take him in to the vet was that he had a mild cough for a few days and his purring had started sounding kind of whistley. If it hadn’t been for that, I wouldn’t have had a clue. He had a pro-bnp test a year ago and it was totally normal.


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[Sheldon13]

Sadly the only test I would trust is an echocardiogram, though there are strides being made in genetic testing. It's just too bad they are so dang expensive. most pay around $600 per test and if you are getting that annually? Yeah that's a big expense every year. I wish they had those discount clinic days where I live. I know there have been instances of them being as low as $150. I could definitely handle that. They expense of the echos is what will keep me from getting 3-4 Sphynx like I want. Well, that and the cost of food

 

[AlliHille]

Yeah, we don’t have anywhere nearby that had easily accessible scans either. The one Pico had with the cardiologist on Wednesday was $415 plus the cost of the specialist. I have just two Sphynx babies no, I do wish there was more accessible scanning available.

Here’s a picture of my babies this morning. Pico is the pink baby and Matisse is the silver.

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[Condo commando]

He had a pro-bnp test a year ago and it was totally normal.

OMG this is scary. I have relied on proBNP tests for the past couple of years. I know one of mine has an enlarged heart as well, but I have not scanned him because his proBNP score is normal. I guess anything can happen in a year.....at least this is what I am going to believe --- that his proBNP score would not have been normal if he'd had it done now. It makes it very hard to relax though. Anyway I'm glad you noticed how he sounded. That is how I discovered a Siamese I used to have had CHF. I'm sorry and I certainly hope that the meds will do their thing. Wishing you all the best.