Upset for today.

[abbietron]

Elvis has had his first checkup at my own vets. He has a grade 2 heart murmur and is overweight for his age (3kg at 4 months) I am feeling like such a bad mother and so upset that the breeder never told me that he had a murmur. On the overweight note is this correct? It's just his little belly that's a bit rounded but I thought that was the breed? He only gets 4 small (I mean small) drops a day. The practice don't have any other Sphynx registered so I feel they may not be well versed in the breed. I am not doubting the vet, I'm just a little upset and I am a worrier. Can anyone share some advice on food, weight or heart related issues?

 

[Inflamed]

I'm sorry it didn't go so well as you wanted. I think overweight is a bit exaggerated. He didn't look fat in the bath video I saw yesterday and the round belly is part of the breed indeed. Maybe he is going to be a big boy? My boys are 4.7 & 4.5 kg at 3 & 2 years so...
The murmur could just be stress induced from the visit to the vet. I would take him back in a few months and re-check then. And sometimes murmurs are just murmurs; they don't have to evolve into anything serious.
I hope this helps a bit!

 

[NinaGato]

I don't see how you can call a kitten overweight? They are changing so much. Please see if you can find a vet in your area thay has seen Sphynx before. Sometimes a murmur is just from stress at the vets but you want to be sure. Don't get down in the dumps but be proactive about his heart health.

 

[Lickleone]

Are you sure the breeder knows it may be stressed indused or perhaps it's only developed now I hope it's just stress related. But I think we can't blame breeders for every condition outlet babies have they may not have had the condition while at the breeders.

 

[Cathie]

I would tell your breeder about the mummer, but your baby may not have had it when he left their house. I would just go back in a month or so and have it rechecked. Maybe find another vet, just for a 2nd option.

 

[ElvirasMum]

Yeah I don't see how he could be overweight when they do so much growing so quickly! You should see how much bigger Tish is now, and she's got some massive paws to grow into!
I agree with the others, it may have been a stress induced murmur but I'd still try to find another vet thats maybe dealt with Sphynx prior to yours.
Good luck!

 

[assibassi]

you recieved great advise already from others.
I dont know anything about Murmurs.
But i dont think Your kitten is overweight, they are so much playing and running and burning the Food off. He is still growing first of all and maybe he will be a big Boy ! My Hansel is a huge Cat , lean . I got him when he was 7 years old but still , he has that pouch belly too! He weighs about almost 5 kilos ?
How much are you feeding him ? Does Your Vet think you overfeed him ?
Go to a diff vet like others suggest andthen also ask them How much do they think you should feed your cat ?
My Hairy we fed about 6 to 8 oz of food a day , 4 meals a day aprox 2 oz per feeding.

 

[abbietron]

I let the breeder know. I know that he may not have had the murmur before he left them so I was very polite and did not pass the buck to them. I just wanted to let them know it jad cropped up. I don't measure the food but he gets less than a handful 4 times a day. I going to get scales to make sure its not my fault. He runs around like mad, he never sleeps. I'm not sure how I would find a cet that specialises in unusal breeds. I will have a look tonight and call a few.

 

[PrimateLove]

He doesn't look overweight to me at all....I've heard a healthy sphynx can weight between 8lbs - 15lbs (3.6kg - 6.8kg), it depends on their body type.

As for the murmur...I had that scare last month. I took Emma Leigh in for a dental issue and left with a heart murmur. I took her in for a heart scan (well worth the money) and it came back normal, they said it was a stress murmur and from what I hear it is more common than you think.

Stay positive and get a heart scan if you can for piece of mind. If it turns out to be HCM, you can catch it early and get him on the right meds, if it is stress, then you have your answer.

Hugs to you as I know how hard it is to go into the vet thinking one thing and coming out with a world of worry on your shoulders...

 

[abbietron]

The breeder contacted me and said if the problem is still there after his next visit she will replace with another from the next litter, this is an amazing gesture but I couldn't bear to part with him. He is insured and if it did get worse I would spend every single last pound on my Elvis. I made the commitment to love and care for him and this is what I'll be doing.

Thanks to everyone for their support and constructive feedback. You don't know how much it means.

 

[AbbieS]

Nah, he doesn't look overweight to me! I'm sorry to hear of his murmur.

 

[Taraforweb]

woops- double post

 

[Taraforweb]

Here is a chart that reviews healthy cat wiegh by visual standards. It seem more about how well you can see the spine and that there is a 'waist' when viewed from the top vs. weight.

http://www.cat-world.com.au/images/body-condition.jpg

 

[abbietron]

Here is a chart that reviews healthy cat wiegh by visual standards. It seem more about how well you can see the spine and that there is a 'waist' when viewed from the top vs. weight.

http://www.cat-world.com.au/images/body-condition.jpg

Judging on the visual standards he is probably a little skinny. He still has alot of skin to fill out. I think he's fine, gut instinct tells me this.

 

[Embracing-Joyx4]

Hope all is well, a murmur can be just that. Do your scan and go from there. Sending lots of love and positive energy your way.

 

[Hairless Blessing]

Sphynx require a lot of food, because of their metabolism. Especially a kitten.
I have always left out dry food around the clock for Izmae and feed her wet 3 x's a day.
Which she doesn't eat too much wet. About a big tablespoon full, is all she will eat.
Sometimes she doesn't eat all that. If you think sometime down the road, your baby
is getting overweight you can cut back. But, now, I think you need to give all he wants.
Sphynx have a saggy belly fat or not.

 

[abbietron]

Sphynx require a lot of food, because of their metabolism. Especially a kitten.
I have always left out dry food around the clock for Izmae and feed her wet 3 x's a day.
Which she doesn't eat too much wet. About a big tablespoon full, is all she will eat.
Sometimes she doesn't eat all that. If you think sometime down the road, your baby
is getting overweight you can cut back. But, now, I think you need to give all he wants.
Sphynx have a saggy belly fat or not.

Thank you so much for your advice. You have all backed me up on what I initially thought was correct. I think at times I just need to stand up for what I believe in. Vet surgeon or not.

 

[ZiggyStardust]

I agree with the others: I don't think he's overweight and it could be a stress murmur, but an echo can confirm. ::HUGS:: Sorry you had such a bad time at the vet!

 

[abbietron]

My overweight boy happy as can be.

 

[Catzzzmeow]

I still swear he doesn't look overweight

 

[abbietron]

I still swear he doesn't look overweight

He's perfect (this isn't his best angle) Feeling more positive today about the trip to the vets, again, thanks everyone .

 

[Retro Kitty]

Awww, you feed that baby as much as he wants! Kittens go through different growth spurts anyway. It seems like their legs will grow overnight and be too long for their body and then the body will cats up and fill out then they’ll grow longer and the weight has to catch up again. And they all grow at different rates so it’s a little unfair of the vet to say a 4 month old kitten is overweight! He doesn’t look fat in the photos.
And like everyone else said, don’t stress about the murmur. Check again in month or so. Maybe take his favorite blanket and some treats with you to the vet to calm him down a little. Once he’s a year old you can do a heart scan and insurance should pay for it since the vet can recommend it due to preciously hearing a murmur. But at this point it’s just a murmur than my or may not be there the next time they listen to his heart. ;-)

 

[abbietron]

Awww, you feed that baby as much as he wants! Kittens go through different growth spurts anyway. It seems like their legs will grow overnight and be too long for their body and then the body will cats up and fill out then they’ll grow longer and the weight has to catch up again. And they all grow at different rates so it’s a little unfair of the vet to say a 4 month old kitten is overweight! He doesn’t look fat in the photos.
And like everyone else said, don’t stress about the murmur. Check again in month or so. Maybe take his favorite blanket and some treats with you to the vet to calm him down a little. Once he’s a year old you can do a heart scan and insurance should pay for it since the vet can recommend it due to preciously hearing a murmur. But at this point it’s just a murmur than my or may not be there the next time they listen to his heart. ;-)

He's at the leggy stage and his head is going through the filling out stage. He yowls for food quite alot, so I just give him a small little amount to top him up.

I really hope it is stress related. He really didn't like his trip to the vets. The vet felt his beans and he gave a little back leg kick. That's my boy ^_^

 

[Retro Kitty]

I don’t blame him, going to any doctor is stressful! I had to go for a consultation with an oral surgeon recently and my blood pressure was REALLY high, it’s normally on the low side. The assistant kind of laughed and asked me if I was a little nervous. Yes, a lot nervous!

Tell the vet to check listen to his heart before checking his beans next time. LOL

 

[Graddydani]

Little Elvis is not overweight! have you tried to see if you could find other vets that may know more about sphynx around you?