11/14 Morris AMPS 198; PMPS 319 - cardiomyopathy info needed

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Gwen and Morris

Gwen and Morris

Member Since 2009
yesterday: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=56386

Well, this is a better start to the day! I have to go to work today, so won't have any more checks until I get home around +9. Overnight, Morris ate 3/4 of his food - YAY!

I will also be anxiously awaiting the call from my vet today - knowing her, she will probably call me this evening from home. I still want to hear more about these 'marginal' kidney issues and his ECG report. nailbite_smile
 
Re: 11/14 Morris AMPS 198

Nice sunny start Mr M! Keep those numbers in good ranges today so your bean won't worry! ;-) Hope your vetty report is good news.
 
Re: 11/14 Morris AMPS 198

Hi guys .. yay on eating his fuds last night! yay on the blue start to the day! I will keep positive thoughts for you guys that the vetty report is good news ... have a great day!
 
Re: 11/14 Morris AMPS 198; +10 274 not eating

I like the number, but I don't like the fact that he has not touched his food yet today :sad: After testing, I put him down beside his food bowl in hopes that he will eat at least a little bit. Still waiting for my vet to cal nailbite_smile
 
Re: 11/14 Morris AMPS 198; +10 274 not eating

aw, Morris!!

you need to EAT!!

best of luck on the vetty info, Gwen...
 
Re: 11/14 Morris AMPS 198; +10 274; vet report - need advice

I have now had a chance to speak with my vet. She said the 'marginal' kidney issues are minor & I shouldn't worry about them - a couple of his kidney numbers were slightly out of whack compared to what they should be. She said with these numbers, she wouldn't recommend any changes to his care.

The big news - the ECG report! Unfortunately, they did not document his arrythmia on the strip (he usually drops a beat about once per minute). With all of his medical data, plus the ECG that was done, they think there is a possibility he has an enlarged ventricle and/or cardiomyopathy! They are recommending an xray (my vet is not sure she could diagnose this herself on an xray - would need to be sent to a radiologist) or better yet an ultrasound. Both of these options are pretty expensive around here & I'm not sure we have the extra cash to pay for these extras.

I asked her what would happen IF we did these tests & confirmed these diagnosis - she said then she wouldn't be wanting to put him under anesthesia. She went on to say, that with how awful his teeth are at this point, if we can't do this dental, then maybe we should have the PTS discussion :o as he is already at the point where he's not eating & it will only get worse.

I then asked if she would be willing to do the dental on him if we did not do the other expensive tests. She would be willing to do it, but there are no guarantees that he would tolerate it. nailbite_smile

I then said, OK - lets take a deep breath & just hope for the best this Thursday as planned. She then convinced me to think about things overnight & discuss with my dh.

If we are going to proceed on Thursday (I have to call the office tomorrow & let them know my decision), then she wants me to come get some antibiotics to start with before the dental on Thursday. She wants me to feed him until midnight the night before the dental with regular insulin the night before. The morning of, she said no food & give 1/2 dose insulin.

Any thoughts/comment/suggestions? :shock:
 
Re: 11/14 Morris AMPS 198; PMPS 319 - cardiomyopathy info ne

In the end, he only ate 1/4 of his food today.

I have cross-posted over on health in hopes of getting some cardiomyopathy info & any advice/thoughts/suggestions on this incredible decision I need to make by morning.
 
Re: 11/14 Morris AMPS 198; PMPS 319 - cardiomyopathy info ne

Please send a PM to Jess and Earl. Jess is a vet tech who specializes in cardiology.


Please take the 911 icon of of your condo. This is not a life threatening emergency.
 
Re: 11/14 Morris AMPS 198; PMPS 319 - cardiomyopathy info ne

Gwen, I'm sorry about the test results. Whatever decision you make will be the right one. Thinking of you and Morris.
Liz
 
Re: 11/14 Morris AMPS 198; PMPS 319 - cardiomyopathy info ne

(((((Gwen & Morris)))))
Think positively. All of LL is with you whatever decision you make. I hope that Jess will be able to help you see the issues clearly. Thinking of you tonight and sending many prayers and healing vines for Morris.

Ella & Rusty
 
Re: 11/14 Morris AMPS 198; PMPS 319 - cardiomyopathy info ne

There is an excellent HCM yahoo group with some really smart people in it. I would also join that group if you can.

I have been down this path and I would not rely on a diagnosis of HCM based solely on an ECG and an xray. My vet recently did an xray of Tobey's chest before a dental and felt that his heart looked enlarged. I took him immediately to a cardiologist who did an echo and Tobey's heart was totally normal. The specialist said that it is very common for the heart to appear enlarged on an xray due to many factors including the way they lay the cat down. In order to confirm HCM, an echo is needed. HCM can be very treatable depending on how far it has progressed. A good friend of mine has an HCM kitty who was diagnosed at 3 and is still alive and doing quite well at 10. Her HCM was caught early and progresses very slowly with the meds she needs on board. HCM, like FD, is ECID.

Arrhythmia can be treated with atenolol but just because a cat has arrhythmia does not mean it has HCM. My GA Max fell into this category. He also had a murmur.

Wishing you the best of luck with your decision.
 
Re: 11/14 Morris AMPS 198; PMPS 319 - cardiomyopathy info ne

I replied about Morris on health. I just wanted to go off on a tangent and offer some other info ...

Marjorie and Gracie said:
The specialist said that it is very common for the heart to appear enlarged on an xray due to many factors including the way they lay the cat down. In order to confirm HCM, an echo is needed.
Click to expand...

Yup, agree. Cats often have fat around the pericardium (heart sac) and this can give the impression the heart is larger than it is.

HCM can be very treatable depending on how far it has progressed. A good friend of mine has an HCM kitty who was diagnosed at 3 and is still alive and doing quite well at 10. Her HCM was caught early and progresses very slowly with the meds she needs on board.
Click to expand...

I wanted to comment on this. The tragedy of HCM in cats is that it is not treatable and there is nothing one can do to slow its progression. Medications are given to help ameliorate some symptoms of HCM (atenolol to slow heart rate, enalapril when a cat is in danger of congestive heart failure) and medications are life-saving for cats in congestive heart failure, one of the consequences of HCM. But it progresses (or rarely, regresses) at will, and no love, money, or pharmaceuticals will influence this. I've seen cats on the fast track and I have seen cats who mysteriously plateau for years and years. Cats tend to be rule-breakers :) and HCM in cats is a prime example.
 
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