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  #1  
Old August 8th, 2011, 12:03 PM
Miu2011 Miu2011 is offline
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Unhappy 4 month kitten with a heart murmur

I was told my 4 month old Sphynx kitten was diagnosed with a level/grade 3 heart murmur. The vet suggested an ultrasound with a cardiologist, which I have scheduled. From others I've spoken to online and also from what I've read, heart murmurs can go away -- the kitten grows out of it. But my vet felt a level 3 murmur on a 4 month old kitten didn't seem like it was going to be grown out of. Obviously I'll do whatever for my kitten's health, but I was wondering if anyone else has had this experience. I don't want to postpone an important test, but the test isn't cheap -- at least $400 -- so I don't want to overreact either. Advice??
Thanks.
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  #2  
Old August 8th, 2011, 03:10 PM
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Dog Dancer Dog Dancer is offline
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Sorry I have no experience with this, but wanted to wish you the best of luck with your kitty. I'd do the test if at all possible, because if nothing else it will give you some baseline info on the state of the murmur.
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Old August 8th, 2011, 04:08 PM
sue3pets sue3pets is offline
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cat

My cat also went to the cardiologest and had a ultra sound 6 years ago. He was diagnosed with Systolic anterior motion SAM of the mitral valva. Then a year later on the ultra sound it showed that he also was getting hypertrophied HCM which is not good. So at that time the dr. put him on a beta blocker of Atenolol. Which I buy at my regular pharmacy.
The Dr. doesn't know how long he will live but the Atenolol does help it to slow down. And he does go for a ultra sound each year.
He is such a sweet cat that I love him so much that the money doesn't matter. His sister doesn't have SAM or the HCM. But he is long hair and his sister is short hair so they don't have the same Dad.
Hope this helps.
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  #4  
Old August 8th, 2011, 04:31 PM
Miu2011 Miu2011 is offline
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Thanks, Sue. I've read a lot of inspiring stories online so I haven't given up hope. It's a wait and see sort of thing. I'll keep you posted.
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  #5  
Old August 8th, 2011, 05:24 PM
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mikischo mikischo is offline
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Glad to hear you will be going ahead with the ultrasound.

Heart murmurs are graded 1 to 6 based on the loudness of the sound with grade 1 being very faint and grade 6 being very loud. Although in general the higher the grade the more serious the disease is likely to be, this is not always the case.

The ultrasound is the only way to diagnose the type of cardiac disease, the prognosis, and the best course of treatment.

Sending for you and your kitty.

Will be watching for an update.
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Old August 8th, 2011, 08:50 PM
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DMCWLVSSR DMCWLVSSR is offline
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My Mischka is a HCM kitty too. Diagnosed 6 years ago by ultrasound. She has been on Atenolol too and doing splendid. Sending hugs prayers and purrs
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  #7  
Old August 8th, 2011, 04:30 PM
Miu2011 Miu2011 is offline
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Thanks, Dog Dancer. She is scheduled and I'm going forward with the test. I'll let you guys know what happens. Please send kitty good thoughts.
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