HCM screening and UK specialist vets

[Amy31]

hi all I've been reading up,on HCM and I'm wanting to get my little one screened to sort of put me at ease, I have absolutely no worries about his health but I'd feel even better doing this! On a lot of things I read it says to screen the if breeding, surely you can have it done if you are not? And does anybody know of any specialist sphynx vets in the UK? I live in the Blackpool area but will be willing to travel TIA

 

[admin]

Hi @Amy31 - many owners do scan even if they are not breeding, your vet should be able to recommend a reputable cardiologist.

 

[zoinks]

I would start scanning at 1 year and continue annually or ever 2 years.

It helps you keep on top of any HCM that pops up as there is often no symptoms until it has progressed to severe.

Therefore, even if he seems perfectly healthy you can't be sure. My vet had not even noticed Alfies heart murmur and he was diagnosed at 11 months with HCM after I got him scanned.

Good idea to do the scans for peace of mind.

Like admin said, your vet should be able to help with finding a cardiologist, you could also ask your breeder if she is nearby - hopefully she is scanning her breeding cats.

 

[Amy31]

Hi @Amy31 - many owners do scan even if they are not breeding, your vet should be able to recommend a reputable cardiologist.

Thank you he is having his ears cleaned in January so I will ask them

 

[admin]

Thank you he is having his ears cleaned in January so I will ask them

Does he have an ear issue of some sort? If its just a regular ear cleaning, its very easy to do it yourself.

Cleaning your sphynx ears

 

[Amy31]

I would start scanning at 1 year and continue annually or ever 2 years.

It helps you keep on top of any HCM that pops up as there is often no symptoms until it has progressed to severe.

Therefore, even if he seems perfectly healthy you can't be sure. My vet had not even noticed Alfies heart murmur and he was diagnosed at 11 months with HCM after I got him scanned.

Good idea to do the scans for peace of mind.

Like admin said, your vet should be able to help with finding a cardiologist, you could also ask your breeder if she is nearby - hopefully she is scanning her breeding cats.

Ahh I see thank you yes the cardiologist isn't a problem I'd just like a vet who knows what they are doing when it comes to sphynx cats, the vets I've tried so far worry me haha, it's never good when you walk in and they say they've never seen one of these in real life before! I'm sorry to hear about your little one, if you don't mind my asking how do you deal with it on a day to day basis? It's something I'm very scared of coming in contact with!

 

[Amy31]

Does he have an ear issue of some sort? If its just a regular ear cleaning, its very easy to do it yourself.

Cleaning your sphynx ears

It's just a regular clean, I clean the outsides with cotton buds but as I don't like to fiddle round to much in there he's got a little build up deeper than I like to go so I'm just going to have it removed

 

[zoinks]

@Amy31 luckily so far we have no symptoms, he is just a bit less active than my other sphynx which I'm not even sure is due to the HCM.

We take him to be rechecked every 6 months-1 year to monitor the progress, so far it is moderate.

We just appreciate every day we have with him.

Regarding a sphynx vet, our vet at first had not seen any but the thing that sold me on them was that they were willing to learn. Now they have 10+ sphynx clients. I count a lot on reviews and recommendations as sometimes It's tough to find a vet nearby that has sphynx clients already

 

[Amy31]

@Amy31 luckily so far we have no symptoms, he is just a bit less active than my other sphynx which I'm not even sure is due to the HCM.

We take him to be rechecked every 6 months-1 year to monitor the progress, so far it is moderate.

We just appreciate every day we have with him.

Regarding a sphynx vet, our vet at first had not seen any but the thing that sold me on them was that they were willing to learn. Now they have 10+ sphynx clients. I count a lot on reviews and recommendations as sometimes It's tough to find a vet nearby that has sphynx clients already

I see :/ i will have to have a search round, thank you very much for your help