The cat has tachycardia what to do. Heart failure in cats - symptoms and treatment. Used in treatment

Heart failure is the inability of the heart to fully perform its main function, that is, to pump blood, supplying it to all organs and tissues of the body. Consider why this condition develops in our pets, what are the signs of heart failure in cats, and what treatment is available.

Causes and types of heart failure

There are many reasons for the development of this pathology. Any change, congenital or acquired, in the structure of the heart (heart muscle, valvular apparatus, main vessels) leads to abnormal heart function.

Heart failure can penetrate into acute and chronic form. During an exacerbation, the disease manifests itself especially strongly, but it can be compensated with the help of drugs and go into a chronic form with less intense manifestations. With a chronic disease, animals live for years, but exacerbations are often repeated in the future.

If the forces of the body and drugs help to practically nullify the manifestations of the disease, then they speak of compensated pathology. If the heart can no longer fulfill its function fully, then it is decompensated.

In addition, insufficiency can affect individual parts of the heart more, therefore, right-sided and left-sided heart failure is distinguished. Since the left and right atria and ventricles of the heart perform different functions, the manifestations will also be different.

Symptoms of Chronic Heart Failure in Cats

Symptoms cardiovascular insufficiency in cats, most often develop gradually, while there are four degrees of development of the disease:

1. External signs of the disease are absent or make themselves felt only with strong physical exertion.
2. Symptoms occur with moderate exertion (exercise or mild stress).
3. The manifestation of symptoms both with a slight load, and without it.
4. Constant manifestation of symptoms.

The main signs of heart failure in cats are:

• increased respiratory rate at rest;
• dyspnea;
• accumulation of fluid in the pleura (when fluid in the chest cavity interferes with full breathing) and abdominal cavity with right-sided insufficiency;
• wet cough with left-sided heart failure;
• rapid fatigue of the animal, decreased physical activity;
• growth retardation in kittens congenital pathologies development-related

heart failure;

• cyanosis (nose, teeth, tongue acquire a purple hue), is not always found.

Establishing diagnosis

The task of the owner is to take the animal to the veterinarian when the first suspicious symptoms appear. Examination and auscultation (listening) of the heart will help an experienced veterinarian make a preliminary diagnosis, which is specified on the basis of further research:

• Ultrasound of the heart (ECHO);
• chest x-ray;
• biochemical and clinical blood tests.

Examinations will help to understand exactly what changes have occurred in the heart, how blood circulation is disturbed and the anatomy of the organ itself has been changed. Based on these data, it is already possible to select the treatment of heart failure in cats.

Treatment of chronic heart failure in cats

Heart failure, unfortunately, reduces the life expectancy of a pet. How much - depends on the degree of development of the disease. Sometimes cats live very long with chronic heart failure if it can be compensated with drugs.

For continuous use, small doses of diuretics are prescribed to remove excess fluid so that it does not accumulate in the abdominal cavity and lungs. It is necessary to give the cat drugs that improve the contraction of the heart muscle and normalize the rhythm.

Not the last role is played by the control of physical activity. Strong stress should be avoided. If the cat is overweight, it is best to reduce its weight by changing the diet.

Acute heart failure in cats: symptoms and treatment

Sometimes the condition sharply worsens, causing a deterioration in well-being and the development life threatening states. In this case, the following phenomena may occur:

• sudden lethargy;
• severe shortness of breath, turning into suffocation;
• pallor or cyanosis of the mucous membranes;
• pulmonary edema - leakage of fluid into the alveoli (this phenomenon is described in detail in the article Cardiogenic pulmonary edema in cats).

If timely measures are not taken to stop this condition, then it can be complicated by the occurrence of blood clots. The end result of acute heart failure is cardiogenic shock- a sharp decrease in the output of blood from the heart and blood pressure which often leads to death.

During acute conditions the animal needs to carry out urgent resuscitation measures, which are possible in conditions veterinary clinic. Large doses of diuretics are administered to remove excess fluid, antiarrhythmic drugs, drugs that increase cardiac output and dissolve blood clots.

If necessary, the fluid is pumped out of the chest and abdominal cavity with the help of a surgical intervention (puncture), oxygen is given.

Without normal operation heart is impossible for the normal functioning of the body as a whole. It is very important for every owner of a tailed and mustachioed friend to understand general principle development of heart failure and be aware of the first signs of the disease.

Only early diagnosis of this pathology allows you to choose a good treatment with which the cat can live a long and happy life.

Cardiac failure develops under the following circumstances:

Symptoms

The disease proceeds in an acute or permanent form. In the first case, the symptoms are pronounced, in the second it is not easy to notice them, because the cat often sleeps.

Acute cardiac failure

During the manifest process, the animal experiences oxygen starvation is characterized by the following symptoms:

• dyspnea;
• loss of consciousness;
• wheezing, loud alarming meow;
• paralysis of the hind limbs, complete or partial;
• tachycardia;
• gums become bluish.

Chronic heart failure

It develops slowly, sometimes the owner notices something was wrong after a few years. It has the following characteristics:

• lethargy, lack of playfulness;
• persistent shortness of breath;
• bloated belly;
• thirst;
• mucous membranes temporarily turn blue;
• The cat has fainting spells.

Diagnostics

A preliminary diagnosis is made on the basis of clinical signs. The owner of a cat should be alert to changes in behavior. The pet avoids communication, does not play, meows plaintively. The final diagnosis is established by a veterinary cardiologist based on the clinic, as well as the following studies:

• standard analysis of urine and blood;
• thoracic radiograph;

Animals with confirmed heart failure are excluded from breeding.

Treatment

The life of a pet suffering from cardiac insufficiency depends on the action of a felinologist. When fainting, do the following:

• lay the cat, giving the head a position on its side;
• pull the tongue out of the mouth;
• put a cold compress on the forehead;
• fix the paws in a position above the head so that the blood rushes not to them, but to the brain;
• call veterinarian.

Treatment of acute insolvency consists of the following actions:

• provide complete peace, do not turn on the TV or vacuum cleaner;
• use diuretics;
• if necessary, aspirate the fluid accumulated in the chest or abdominal cavity;
• use ACE inhibitors, which reduce the load on the myocardium;
• drip enter cardiac glycosides, glucose, electrolytes.

With chronic insolvency, refuse natural nutrition and switch to medicated diets with reduced sodium and high concentrations of taurine.

Homeopathic treatment. Lachesis compositum is shown.

6.6. ACUTE CARDIOVASCULAR FAILURE (COLLAPSE)

The collapse is sharp drop arterial tone, leading to a drop in blood pressure and a decrease in blood flow velocity. As a result, blood supply to the heart muscle and brain is sharply reduced. The collapse develops severe poisoning, after blood loss, with some infectious diseases and for a number of other reasons. It is quite rare in cats.

Symptoms: a sharp decline in strength, shortness of breath, apathy, the cat lies down, the ears and limbs become cold, the pulse is filiform or disappears, the mucous membranes are pale and cyanotic.

If you experience these symptoms, call your veterinarian immediately!

First aid: nitroglycerin or validol under the tongue (from one tenth to a quarter of a tablet, depending on body weight), adrenaline subcutaneously, camphor (0.5-1 ml, subcutaneously), cordiamine, to stimulate breathing - lobeline hydrochloride, heart massage. Instant improvement gives strong sweet coffee (natural) mixed with cognac, brandy, rum or Riga balsam (from 1/5 to 1 teaspoon, depending on the size of the cat).

Homeopathic treatment. The main drug is berberis-homaccord in the form of drops (5 every 15 minutes) or subcutaneous injections (2-3 times a day).

Phytotherapy in this case can be aimed at general strengthening action. In this case, you can use decoctions of the following plants - hawthorn, St. John's wort, peony, motherwort, yarrow, eleutherococcus.

6.7. CHRONIC HEART FAILURE

Chronic heart failure is a syndrome that develops with various cardiovascular diseases and leading to the inability of the heart muscle to provide normal blood circulation. This disease in cats is often promoted by a lack of taurine. The disease is more common in cats than in cats.

Symptoms: shortness of breath, fatigue, tachycardia, cough, edema, ascites, partial paralysis of the hind limbs.

Treatment is prescribed by a veterinarian, and it should be carried out constantly. The treatment regimen includes: 1) the main drugs, the effectiveness and safety of which has been proven - enalapril (or its analogues), beta-blockers (atenolol, metoprolol, etc.), with sodium and water retention - diuretics (furosemide, veroshpiron, etc.) , small doses of cardiac glycosides (digitoxin, digoxin, lantoid - in accordance with ECG data), 2) additional drugs (aldosterone antagonists, angiotensin II antagonists, calcium channel blockers, drugs that improve myocardial metabolism (riboxin, cocarboxylase), panangin, 3) auxiliary preparations (A.G. Komolov, S.L. Mendoza-Istratov, 2001).

Homeopathic treatment. Phosphorus-homaccord, coenzyme compositum and subcutaneously and intramuscularly 2-3 times a week. Liarsin - 1 t. 3 times a day.

Diet therapy. Hill's Prescription Diet Feline h/d, k/d. The Hill's Prescription Diet Feline h/d diet has been reduced in sodium and chlorine, and taurine has been added. Hill's Prescription Diet Feline k/d contains reduced sodium levels to help prevent ascites in initial stages chronic heart failure.

Phytotherapy. Cardiac glycosides and diuretics are mainly used. However, special care must be taken with cats, as they are completely intolerant of these substances, especially from foxglove and lily of the valley. It is better to combine for the treatment of chronic heart failure in cats against the background of the main symptomatic therapy the preparations “Cat Bayun” and phytoelite “ healthy kidneys". In this case, it is not recommended to prepare infusions from medicinal herbs at home.

6.8. PERICARDITIS OF CATS AND CATS

Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardial sac (pericardium) with accumulation of fluid in the cavity of the heart shirt. The disease most often develops after uremia, against the background of a cold, infectious diseases, invasions, and also after poisoning. The disease is characterized by both acute and chronic course.

Symptoms: lethargy, reduced appetite, increased body temperature, increased pulse rate, in violation of blood circulation, swelling of the muscles and subcutaneous tissue is noted. In the future, against the background of heart failure, shortness of breath, cyanosis, and depression are observed.

Treatment, which is carried out under the supervision of a veterinarian, should be directed, first of all, to the elimination of the underlying disease that caused pericarditis. Shown: rest, sparing diet, diuretics, antibiotics, sulfonamides (appointed by a veterinarian).

Homeopathic treatment. Lachesis compositum and traumeel daily as subcutaneous injections.

Phytotherapy. Diuretics (decoctions, infusions of bearberry, parsley, juniper berries), “KotErvin”.

Diet therapy. Hill's Prescription Diet: Feline h/d, k/d.

6.9. CAT ENDOCARDITIS

Endocarditis is a rare inflammation in cats. inner shell heart muscle. As a rule, it develops under the influence of microbial toxins as a complication of parvovirus infection, articular rheumatism, as well as streptococcal and other bacterial infections including at the level of the teeth. In cats, the disease usually occurs as an acute inflammation.

Symptoms: general state sharply depressed, appetite is reduced, shortness of breath is observed, body temperature is elevated, swelling of the limbs, auricles and eyelids is possible. The diagnosis is established by a veterinarian based on clinical examination and ECG data.

Treatment: conducted by a veterinarian. It should include antibiotic therapy(antibiotics), heart preparations (sulfocamphocaine, camphor, cordiamine), antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drugs (sodium salicylate, amidopyrine), gamavit, vittri, vitamin and mineral supplements “Gamma”, SA-37.

Homeopathic treatment. Lachesis compositum daily in the form of subcutaneous injections or orally, 5 drops 4-6 times a day.

Herbal medicine. Herbal medicine is aimed at increasing appetite, detoxification, providing the body with vitamins, trace elements and iron. You can use a birch leaf, horsetail, wild rose, barberry, motherwort, hop cones, nettles. Good results gives the use of the drug "Cat Bayun" and restorative phytomines, which include the following medicinal herbs: echinacea, bedstraw, meadowsweet, mullein, agrimony, St. John's wort, birch leaf, birch buds, pine buds, clover, willow-herb, wild rose, yarrow, licorice, valerian.

Diet therapy. Hill's Prescription Diet Feline h/d, k/d.

6.10. ATHEROSCLEROSIS OF CATS AND CATS

Atherosclerosis is a rare disease in cats characterized by damage to the walls of the arteries with subsequent degenerative-sclerotic changes. The main cause of the disease is a violation of lipid-protein metabolism. Chronic illness that affects the arteries and is characterized by the deposition of fatty masses, the development connective tissue with thickening and deformation of the wall of the arteries. In the pathogenesis of the disease, a violation of the permeability and metabolism in the wall of the vessel, mainly fatty, is of certain importance.

Symptoms: fatigue, with atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels - angiospasms, sometimes accompanied by loss of consciousness.

The diagnosis is made by a veterinarian based on laboratory data.

Treatment: Drug therapy should be restricted to serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels. For this purpose, beta-sitosterol, arachidene or polysponin can be used. Recommended diet low in fat and protein, iodine preparations, cardiovascular drugs, vitamins.

Phytotherapy. Atherosclerosis is used: garlic (bulbs); onions (bulbs); wild garlic (leaves, bulbs); mistletoe (grass); dandelion (root); burdock large (root); immortelle (flowers); yarrow (grass); hawthorn (flowers, fruits); sea ​​kale (leaves); Nippon Dioscorea (roots); creeping anchors (grass and roots); horse chestnut (fruit); clover (flowers); nettle (grass); calendula (flowers); flax seed. You can combine the use of preparations "Cat Bayun" and phytoelite cleansing tea.

Diet therapy. Hill's Prescription Diet Feline r/d, w/d. For the prevention of atherosclerosis, a diet enriched with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids is recommended - Prescription Diet Feline g / d.

6.11. ANEMIA IN CATS AND CATS

Anemia (anemia) is a pathological condition in which the relative content of red blood cells and hemoglobin levels decrease in the blood. The term "anemia" is commonly used in veterinary practice to refer to a drop in peripheral blood hemoglobin below 8 g/100 ml in cats and below 12 g/100 ml in dogs, accompanied by a decrease in the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity.

Hemolytic anemia is caused by infectious agents that destroy red blood cells and by autoantibodies (autoimmune hemolytic anemia), due to a pathological disorder of bone marrow hematopoiesis (hypoplastic and aplastic anemia in viral leukemia and feline immunodeficiency), as well as due to transient suppression of hematopoiesis, which manifests itself in kittens due to inadequate feeding (alimentary anemia).

Most often, cats have iron deficiency anemia, as well as anemia caused by a lack of vitamins, trace elements or essential fatty acids. Hemolytic anemia can occur with regular consumption of onions and cabbage, as well as when used in cats as anthelmintic phenothiazine. Hemolytic anemias are characterized by a decrease in the lifespan of red blood cells. The presence of such anemia can be judged by the degradation products of hemoglobin.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AHA) in clinical setting is not detected too often, but among the autoimmune diseases of cats, it occurs with the greatest frequency. In cats, secondary AGA is usually associated with infection with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) or Haemobartonella felis.

Long-term feeding of fish such as silver hake and pollock is dangerous for cats, as it leads to the development iron deficiency anemia(these fish contain substances that prevent the absorption of iron). Fish such as sardines, capelin, Baltic herring, sprat contain the enzyme thiaminase, which destroys vitamin B1, which leads to malnutrition, muscle weakness and disorders of the central nervous system. Such fish should be thoroughly boiled and its quantity limited.

Symptoms: anemia occurs at any age, but most often develops between the ages of 2 and 7 years. The most typical symptoms are: fatigue, loss of strength, lethargy, anorexia, blanching of the mucous membranes of the gums, tachypnea (rapid breathing at rest), tachycardia, fainting.

Treatment should be prescribed by a veterinarian depending on the cause and type of anemia. It is desirable to add meat, raw liver to the diet, stimulating the production of red blood cells. Gamavit, Vittri, Gemovit-plus, Tsamaks, vitamin-mineral nutritional supplements SA-37, “Gamma” are shown. In autoimmune hemolytic anemia, corticosteroid therapy is mandatory until the hemogram normalizes and a negative result is obtained in the Coombs test. Corticosteroids (Dexafort) are used either alone or in combination with danazol, cyclophosphamide, or azathioprine.

In cats, corticosteroid therapy is combined with therapy with tetracycline antibiotics (note that tetracycline antibiotics can be pyrogenic, and in kittens lead to slower bone and tooth growth). This is done systematically if a blood test reveals Haemobartonella felis, or to prevent possible hemobartonellosis.

Corticosteroid therapy in cats should not be given for too long, especially in FeLV infections, as the immunosuppressive effects of corticosteroids may exacerbate the already pronounced immunosuppressive effects of a viral infection. In addition, in cats with latent viral infection corticosteroid therapy can exacerbate the pathology and cause viremia.

Homeopathic treatment. The effectiveness of treatment and, accordingly, the prognosis for anemia may vary depending on the cause of this disease. But in all cases, the basic preparations will be coenzyme compositum (in injections) and liarsine.

Diet therapy. Hill's Prescription Diet Canine/Feline a/d, Feline p/d.

Phytotherapy. As an additional source of iron, you can use an infusion of rose hips and wild strawberries, decoctions of St. John's wort, dioica nettle, medicinal burnet, red clover, burdock root, sea buckthorn. Potatoes, white cabbage, sea buckthorn, viburnum, cranberries, and corn contain iron and its salts. Restorative phytomines can be recommended, since in addition to iron salts, they include rose hips, garlic, calamus, echinacea, which enhance the hematopoietic function of the body.

6.12. AUTOIMMUNE THROMBOCYTOPENIA IN CATS

Autoimmune (or immune-mediated) thrombocytopenia is one of the causes of acquired deficiency of primary hemostasis in both cats and dogs. Despite the variety of causes that cause it, most cases of immunologically mediated thrombocytopenia are based on common pathogenetic mechanisms:

increased levels of antibodies fixed on platelets;

increased destruction of platelets by cells of the phagocytic mononuclear system;

a severe reduction in the lifespan of circulating platelets.

Thrombocytopenia develops in animals when cells of the phagocytic mononuclear system begin to destroy antibody-coated platelets. It is more common in adult cats ( average age 6 years) in combination with both clinical (purpura, epistaxis, hematuria, hemorrhage) and biological symptoms (severe thrombocytopenia (less than 30,000 platelets in 1 µl), sometimes also anemia.

Treatment is carried out by a veterinarian. Corticosteroid therapy, hemostatic agents (calcium chloride, vikasol) are indicated. Sometimes splenectomy is successful.

6.13. PRIMARY IMMUNODEFICIENCY OF CATS AND CATS

In representatives of the cat family, diseases of an immunodeficiency nature are common.

In most cases, they refer to acquired (secondary) immunodeficiencies that develop as a result of an infectious disease caused by feline retroviruses: feline leukemia virus (FeLV) or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). The disease caused by the latter is interesting in that it is a model of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in humans, which is caused by HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus (Levine D.F. e.a., 2001).

In addition to acquired immunodeficiencies, several primary immunodeficiencies have been described in cats.

The first disease is called Chediak-Higashi syndrome. It is a congenital autosomal recessive disease of blue persian cats. A similar disease has been described in humans, as well as in other animal species, in particular, in whales, foxes, minks, large cattle Hereford breed; it is manifested by the presence of giant lysosomes in some categories of granulocytes. Clinically, the disease is characterized hypersensitivity to infections, albinism, blurring of the usual color (for example, in blue smoky Persians, in which even the irises of the eyes, which are normally golden or copper, become light green or yellowish), and an increased tendency to hemorrhages (due to associated thrombopathy). Kittens also have hemophilia due to disaggregation thrombocytopenia. Diagnosis is based on a blood test. The prognosis is unfavorable.

The second disease is called the Pelger-Huet anomaly and occurs in domestic shorthair cats. With this immunodeficiency, hyposegmentation of neutrophils and eosinophils is observed, leading to the fact that a shift to the left is noted in the hemogram. There is also a functional defect of neutrophils. Inheritance is autosomal dominant.

6.14. Systemic lupus erythematosus in cats

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): a non-specific autoimmune disease of the body, which is accompanied by lesions caused by cytotoxic antibodies and immune complex deposition.

SLE is observed in many mammalian species (human, mouse, monkey, cat, dog and horse). As a rule, the disease proceeds in a subacute or - more often - in a chronic form, accompanied by periods of remission. The multiple symptoms characteristic of this disease do not necessarily occur all at once, but may develop gradually as SLE progresses.

Symptoms: crusts, ulcerations, sometimes papules, pustules, vesicles mainly affect the front surface, ears, neck. The disease can also take a generalized form. Pleurisy and pericarditis are possible, in advanced cases renal lesions and in many cases death ascertain due to renal insufficiency. Sometimes hemolytic anemia is observed, which is accompanied by positive test Coombs. Severe thrombocytopenia is also detected (Barlerin L. 1998).

Treatment should be carried out by a veterinarian, but the prognosis is often unfavorable. Remission can be achieved if the diagnosis is established on early stage, in the absence (or presence of moderate) kidney pathology. Assign immunosuppressive drugs (azathioprine, cyclophosphamide) or levamisole in combination with a corticosteroid.

6.14. DIET THERAPY FOR HEART DISEASES IN CATS

Nutritional therapy is an important part of the treatment of all patients with heart disease. The goal of dietary therapy for congestive heart failure is to reduce the workload on the heart while providing all the nutritional needs of the body. This is achieved in the following way:

reducing sodium intake, which is enough to prevent its accumulation;

prevention or correction of hypoproteinemia;

prevention of a general deficiency of potassium in the body, which often occurs with the appointment of diuretics;

reducing metabolic stress on the liver in a stagnant or cirrhotic state by providing calories from carbohydrates or fats and reducing the need for gluconeogenesis,

reducing the load on the kidneys by reducing the amount of catabolic products of protein metabolism;

providing calories at a level that prevents weight loss or gain;

providing an additional level of B vitamins, especially during diuresis, when their losses increase;

providing acidic minerals to aid in sodium excretion.

Reducing the use of sodium

One of the main goals of dietary therapy for heart disease is to limit sodium intake. Decreased sodium excretion is characteristic of all conditions of heart failure. It is necessary that the restriction of sodium intake concerns all possible sources in the environment of the pet, namely: food, water, treats. The main source of sodium for most cats is ingested food.

Sodium restriction has long been used in the treatment of heart failure. On average, the normal diet of cats and dogs contains about 10 times more sodium than the body needs. In each case, the restriction of sodium content depends on the severity of the damage and the state of heart failure. The kidneys of dogs and cats retain sodium much more efficiently than the kidneys of humans. This is confirmed by the fact that the level of sodium intake at which hyponatremia develops in humans does not lead to the development of hyponatremia in cats. In severe stages of heart failure, a severe reduction in sodium is required. To maintain this level (13 mg sodium/kg/day), the diet should contain about 0.025% sodium canned (70% moisture) or 90 mg/100g dry; this is equivalent to 100 mg/100 g dry matter (Prescription Diet h/d).

When switching to a diet with severe sodium restriction, it is necessary to feed the animal for a certain time on a diet with a mild sodium restriction. Such a stepwise transition from one diet to another is more favorable than an abrupt transition. It allows the body to adapt.

In animals with edema and ascites, when sodium intake is sufficiently reduced, water and sodium retention ceases and the excess is excreted from the body. As water enters the body following the consumption of sodium, which causes thirst, so it is excreted from the body after it, that is, spontaneous diuresis occurs. This response is often seen in animals with heart failure when they are fed a low sodium diet without any other treatment. Chronic hyponatremia is rare in pets.

If it does, it is more likely due to an impaired ability of the kidneys to excrete water than due to inadequate sodium intake. Even if an animal has hyponatremia, an animal with congestive heart failure has an excess of total body metabolic sodium. In cases with chronic hyponatremia, it is quite difficult to carry out therapy, and, therefore, the prognosis is unfavorable.

Sodium restriction is contraindicated in cases of dehydration, weakness, cachexia, chronic diarrhea, hyponatremia and during reproduction. Pregnant females restricted in sodium intake became ill in the last two weeks of pregnancy. This ended in abortions, death or resorption of fetuses due to toxemia or, in best case, protracted childbirth.

Other nutrients

In congestive heart failure, in addition to sodium, the content of other electrolytes is also important. Calcium, magnesium and potassium have great importance in myocardial function. The presence or deficiency of potassium significantly affects the toxicity of cardiac glycosides and their effect on the heart. Cardiac glycosides and diuretics, with the exception of spironolactone, increase potassium excretion; therefore, when prescribing cardiac glycosides and diuretics, the sodium content should be increased to prevent total potassium or hypokalemia.

Providing an adequate amount and ratio of other mineral elements is necessary to maintain the patient's electrolyte balance and homeostasis. What is observed in the diet Prrescription Diet h / d. When this diet is fed to patients with heart disease, the use of supplements is contraindicated.

The availability of water for pets with chronic heart failure should never be limited. Restricting access to water will only exacerbate cell dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. However, one must not forget that drinking water is also a source of sodium. Some cities and homes use sodium cation substitutes to soften water. In this case, unsoftened water must be used. For animals with severe heart failure, distilled water should be used during the initial period of therapy until the ascites or edema resolves.

Most cats with chronic heart failure develop hypoproteinemia, as absorption, transport and metabolism of proteins are impaired. Hypoproteinemia may worsen if excess amounts of abdominal fluid are removed by paracentesis. Hypoproteinemia contributes to a greater delay in the extracellular space.

However, excessive protein intake should be avoided, as in aging animals, heart failure is usually accompanied by chronic renal failure. However, for cats with heart failure, unlike dogs, kidney failure characteristic to a lesser extent. Therefore, cats with heart failure may be fed a high protein diet. A level of 35-45% on a dry matter basis improves the palatability of a sodium-restricted diet.

The protein in the diet should be of high biological value: such that it fully meets the need for it at its reduced level. This will reduce the amount of protein metabolism products that are excreted by the kidneys. Protein restriction helps in preventing azotemia, which is common in heart failure.

Chronic heart failure may be accompanied by congestion in the liver, which limits liver function. Thus, nutrients must be provided in a form that reduces the functional load on the liver. High quality protein is also needed to reduce transamination of amino acids. Simple sugars and emulsified fats are the best sources of energy for the heart and liver.

With heart failure gastrointestinal tract also suffers from insufficient arterial blood supply and from venous congestion. This leads to poor absorption. nutrients due to poor intestinal absorption. Thus, food for patients with congestive heart failure should be highly digestible and often fed in small portions to ensure maximum absorption.

In patients with chronic heart failure who receive diuretics, there is a loss of large amounts of sodium, water and water soluble vitamins group B; thus, the intake of B vitamins should be 5 times more than usual. This can be achieved by adding 1 g of yeast per kilogram of animal weight daily, using vitamin supplements or gamavit. Ready-made low-sodium Prescription Diets h/d or k/d contain increased amounts of B vitamins and do not require additional supplements when fed.

A diet low in sodium must be metabolized to acidic residues. Beneficial is increased production of metabolic acids, which are combined with sodium and excreted in the urine. Excretion of sodium with metabolic acids leads to a reduction in extracellular sodium and fluid, which improves diuresis. Most of the food normally eaten by animals is metabolized to acidic residues, while the food eaten by humans produces mostly alkaline residues. Adding food intended for humans to prepared animal feeds can lead to detrimental alkalization of the diet.

Taste qualities

A low-sodium diet often has palatability problems. Salt improves the palatability of food for most people. But this case does not apply to cats and dogs. The most common reason cats and dogs go off a low-sodium diet is a sudden change in diet from high content protein on a low protein diet, not because of the low sodium content.

Many cats with heart failure are advanced in age and have certain eating habits. The owners are hesitant to deprive them of their favorite food. The veterinarian should not forget this: he has to convince the owner of the animal of the need to change the diet, on which the success of the treatment depends.

When switching to a different diet, the following tricks may be helpful:

heating the feed, especially if the animal is accustomed to warm food;

seasoning feed with a salt substitute (potassium chloride);

supplement of B vitamins (or gamavit).

Taurine supplement

Add taurine to the normal diet of cats with heart failure or use prepared foods that already contain high level taurine. Cats should receive 250-500 mg of taurine per day. Some diets specifically contain high levels of taurine (for example, Hill's Prescription Diet h/d). Animals receiving such feed usually do not need additional supplementation. Raw liver is a good natural source of taurine.

Taurine supplementation in cat food is usually discontinued after 12-16 weeks if: 1) Clinical signs heart failure disappeared, 2) echocardiography values ​​are approximately normal, 3) the cat eats food that maintains a normal concentration of taurine in the blood.

Heart failure in cats

Heart failure is defined as the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to maintain normal circulation to meet the needs of the body.

Heart failure is the result of a weakened heart muscle. This causes problems in the liver, kidneys, lungs and other organs, and leads to several systemic problems.

When the left ventricle begins to recede, the pressure in the pulmonary circulation gradually increases. There is congestion and accumulation of fluid in the alveoli. This condition is called pulmonary edema. In the later stages of the disease, it is very difficult for cats to breathe - she coughs up foam and blood, feels a lack of oxygen. Pulmonary edema usually begins during exercise, stress or nervous excitement, which accelerates the heart rate. In the pleural cavity, fluid may also be formed, which makes the lungs and respiratory tract more difficult. This is called a pleural effusion, which is common cause respiratory disease in cats

Two early sign heart failure: general weakness and shortness of breath during physical work. These symptoms are less pronounced in sedentary cats. When the disease is advanced, there is an alternation of fast and slow heartbeats, vibrations are heard in the chest. The arrhythmia often causes extreme fatigue, which can be mistaken for a stroke or heart attack.

When the right ventricle is even slightly open, the pressure in the veins of the general circulation increases, and congestive heart failure occurs with swelling of the skin in the abdomen and extremities.

Fluid collects in the abdominal cavity and bloating occurs, which is called ascites. Fluid retention increases the workload on the kidneys, which are responsible for handling salt and water.

Ischemic heart disease is not common in cats. They are cardiomyopathic. Heart disease is quite rare in cats. Of all the cats who go to the veterinarian, only 15% of cats suffer from heart disease.

Heart failure

Often animals suffer from so-called "human" diseases. And cats are no exception. For example, sometimes cats can be diagnosed with heart failure. What it is? What are its symptoms? The answers to these questions are given below.

What is heart failure?

The heart is, in fact, a kind of pump, thanks to which blood flows to all tissues and organs. And if the heart for some reason is not able to function normally, then the blood supply is also disturbed. This is called heart failure. By the way, the symptoms in a cat are similar to those observed in humans.

Chronic heart failure

Chronic heart failure is a disease in which a violation of the blood supply and heart rate are observed constantly. The causes of this disease are birth defects hearts, infectious diseases(especially affecting the lungs and heart), as well as genetic predisposition.

In terms of symptoms, the most common symptoms in cats may be shortness of breath, shortness of breath, shortness of breath, fainting, loss of appetite, abdominal ascites(increase in the volume of the abdomen), as well as weight loss. This is how chronic heart failure manifests itself. Symptoms in cats are difficult to miss, as the clinical manifestations are too obvious.

Acute heart failure

Acute heart failure develops very quickly. This phenomenon can be triggered by trauma, blood loss, infections, as well as previous chronic heart failure.

It is worth listing the symptoms. The main ones are: cold extremities, fear, shock, lack of response to external stimuli, rapid breathing, pallor of the mucous membranes.

What to do?

If the owner noticed the cat slightest symptoms heart failure, he should immediately take the animal to the veterinarian so that he can take the necessary measures.

It remains only to add that heart failure in cats is a rather serious disease. But if you start acting in time, then the chances of maintaining the health of the cat will increase.

Heart failure occurs not only in humans, but also in animals. Domestic cats are prone to this disease due to various reasons. A diagnosis seems like a death sentence for many cat owners, but before you panic, you should investigate the matter. After that, you don’t want to panic - you will need to act.

Features of the pathology

Heart failure in cats, the symptoms of which are not known to everyone, is a complex disorder. With it, the heart muscle contracts in the wrong rhythm, which affects the blood circulation of the whole body. The anomaly is considered dangerous, because it is practically uncontrollable. During an attack, energy is barely enough to provide oxygen and essential substances organs and tissues. And it's in calm state. But as soon as the animal starts to run, symptoms of asphyxia appear (lack of oxygen, suffocation).

This is interesting! Cats suffer from acute heart failure less frequently than humans. This is facilitated by nutrition and the specificity of biochemical processes in the animal's body.

Pathology is most often diagnosed in individuals older than 6 years. However, there are cats in which the disease manifests itself as early as 6 months. Reasons can vary from arterial hypertension to cardiomyopathy. Pathology is also congenital and acquired.

Important! The cause of the deviation should be found out in order to prescribe the correct treatment.

In some cases, this is myocarditis (acute or chronic inflammation heart muscle, which is called the myocardium) or myocardosis (dystrophic processes in the tissues). When the heart is affected by any disease, others are inevitable, because it is the main organ that provides the whole body with oxygen.

Another cause of heart failure in cats is hyperthyroidism (excessive thyroid gland). With it, iron creates a large number of hormones that provoke tachycardia. Over time, the rapid heart rate becomes chronic. Tachycardia can cause left ventricular hypertrophy and cause it to eject less blood. A rapid rhythm is also dangerous because with it the wall of the heart wears out ahead of time.

Among the congenital sources of heart failure in a cat, it is worth highlighting insufficient overgrowth of the arterial duct. It helps to mix arterial and venous blood. In small kittens, it is still open and therefore does not cause problems, but with age, an open arterial duct threatens with disorders throughout the body.

Narrowing (stenosis) of the mouths pulmonary artery also contributes to the development of this pathology. There are other serious genetic abnormalities that cause abnormalities, but they are so severe that the animal dies from them at an early age.

Types and types of feline heart failure

There are two types of heart failure - chronic and acute. Chronic develops very slowly and often even imperceptibly, but is stable. Acute pathology is rapid, expressed by attacks lasting from several minutes to hours. During these attacks, the cat develops pulmonary edema, signs of which are blood from the nose and mouth, as well as shortness of breath.

More types of pathology:

1. Systolic myocardial insufficiency. It is a general weakening of the myocardium and a decrease in contractions. Diagnosed by echocardiography. The doctor analyzes the rhythm of the wall movement and the contraction of the ventricles. With a strong deviation, blood flow weakens. The cause is trauma, infection, exposure medicines, poisoning, electric or heat stroke, oncology.
2. Insufficiency due to low inflow venous blood. The cause of obstruction and, as a result, deficiency may be pressure on the heart by fluid in the pericardium (heart sac). Diastolic dysfunction, which develops against the background of tightening of the gastric walls, is also capable of provoking a deviation.
3. Deficiency due to high blood pressure. It appears due to a long and strong load on the heart walls during contractions.
4. Congestive heart failure due to overload. It occurs due to certain diseases, when the ventricles overflow with blood.

Typological signs of heart pathology

Recognizing the pathology of the heart without laboratory tests is not easy, because the symptoms will depend on the type and type of pathology. If the problem is in the left ventricle, then the symptoms will reflect dysfunction of the vessels that deliver blood to this section of the heart, and pressure drops.

Important! The presence of fluid in the lungs will be indicated by wheezing and coughing. These are the main symptoms of pathology.

It is necessary to monitor the appetite and activity of the animal. Lethargy and indifference to food also speak of this pathology.

If the problem is in the right ventricle, then the pressure in the veins and capillaries increases. This is due to the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneum, chest and limbs. In the event that both ventricles are not working properly, there are signs of both insufficiencies, although one usually dominates.

At the first symptoms and attacks, you should consult a doctor. He will spend everything necessary research and prescribe the appropriate treatment for heart failure in a cat. Source: Flickr (Laura)

Treatment of heart failure in cats and cats

In an acute attack of heart failure, you should act immediately, otherwise the pet may die.

The scheme of actions is as follows:

1. Put down the cat.
2. Turn her head to the side.
3. Pull out tongue.
4. Make a cool compress and put it on your head.
5. Try to bring the cat to life with ammonia (moisten cotton wool and bring it to the nose).
6. The paws should be held above the head: the blood flow to the head will increase.

Do not delay treatment. At the first symptoms and attacks, you should consult a doctor. He will conduct all the necessary studies and prescribe a competent treatment for heart failure in a cat. This is necessary, because different forms of pathology require different therapy.

Treatment of heart failure in a cat involves the following manipulations:

• improve myocardial performance;
• normalize heart rhythm;
• normalize blood pressure;
• improve blood circulation;
• reduce blood flow to the ventricles before contraction;
• reduce the amount of fluid in the lungs, peritoneum and chest.

If you ignore the problem, over time, the heart and blood vessels will be damaged irrevocably. The veterinarian should determine the drugs, doses and intensity of treatment based on the results of the tests. This is influenced by the degree of pathology and associated deviations. All prescriptions of the doctor should be strictly followed. With any deviation from treatment, they become useless and even dangerous.

To get rid of excess fluids diuretics (digitalis, digoxin) are used - a group of positive inotropic agents that are used to increase the functionality of the myocardium.

ACE inhibitors and vasodilators are recommended to dilate blood vessels and normalize pressure. In congestive insufficiency, beta-adrenergic blockers and calcium channel blockers are effective.

You should also maintain a diet (sodium reduction), dose physical exercise apply oxygen therapy. Sometimes surgical procedures are required.

Preventing Difficulties

To avoid problems, you should choose a kitten whose pedigree is known. Heart conditions are often inherited. It is unacceptable to contribute to obesity and inactivity of the pet. You need to make a meal plan with the right balance of nutrients.

If an operation is planned, you need to check the heart. Problems with the organ often occur after anesthesia. The load on the heart during the operation is colossal.

The health of a cat should not be secondary. And pets get sick, sometimes even more than people. You should take care of your pet and love him so that he lives in an atmosphere of peace, joy and fun. If the problem overtook you, do not despair. There is always a way out.

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A cat's heart, like any other, is not immune from various ailments. The disease can be acquired during life, congenital and even genetically transmitted. Let's try to figure out what these diseases have in common, what are the symptoms of the disease and the treatment of the heart of cats.

What are heart diseases in cats?

All heart diseases are associated with a violation of the proper functioning of this organ. They can affect various tissues and parts of the heart, proceed acutely or chronically, over many years, be accompanied by violent manifestations, or, conversely, go unnoticed throughout the life of a cat.

We can conditionally divide all heart diseases into following groups by reason and localization of the process:

• Inflammatory heart diseases occur in the tissues of the organ for a variety of reasons, including infectious ones. By localization, they are divided into pericarditis (inflammation of the outer shell of the organ), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle itself), endocarditis (inflammation of the inner lining of the organ).
• Pathological changes in the tissues of the heart (cardiomyopathy).
• Heart defects - congenital and acquired (we talked about them in detail in the article " Heart disease in cats").
• Rhythm and conduction disorders of the heart.
• Dirofilariasis (more on this in our article “Heartworms in cats: the main symptoms of the disease”).

Most cases of heart failure in cats are associated with cardiomyopathies (we discussed this issue in detail in the article Cardiomyopathy in cats, symptoms and treatment of the disease).

Main symptoms

Any disease of the heart in one way or another leads to the development of heart failure. The most noticeable for cats are the appearance of shortness of breath (breathing with the tongue hanging out), rapid fatigue during exertion, blue tongue (cyanosis) and ascites (abdominal enlargement due to fluid accumulation).

Unfortunately, apartment animals rarely show sufficient physical activity. When the cat most sleeps for a day, and walks only to the tray and bowl, then there is simply no load on the heart. Therefore, if a cat has a diseased heart, symptoms may not appear until the sudden death of the animal.

How is heart disease treated in cats?

For cardiac problems, the main method of treatment is the constant intake of certain drugs. Unfortunately, in most cases, heart disease is not amenable to complete cure but we can compensate pathological process, support the body to minimize unwanted manifestations.

Properly selected therapy can not only prolong the life of a small patient, but also significantly improve its quality.

For more information on the main drugs used in veterinary cardiology, see the article "Heart medications for cats". It is important to understand that only the observance of exact dosages and the constant intake of special means can give a lasting effect.

In the case when the symptoms of heart problems in a cat are not expressed and during the studies no strong changes in blood flow are visible, the animal is not prescribed treatment at all, provided that the condition is constantly monitored by the veterinarian and the owner.