Cardiomyopathies (other than obstructive hypertrophic AMI)

A very large number of visits to the clinic with animals are due to problems with the cardiovascular system, which some owners do not even realise, as patients come to the clinic with what seems to be a simple therapeutic problem - with complaints of a banal cough (does not apply to cats) and rapid fatigue after physical exertion.

Cardiomyopathy in animals

Cardiomyopathy (CMP) is a disease affecting the heart muscle (myocardium), as a result of which it is altered both functionally and structurally, while the large vessels of the heart are not involved in the pathological process, nor does the heart valve apparatus suffer and blood pressure does not increase.

They can be either a primary disease without an established cause or secondary to other diseases.

Cardiomyopathy in cats

In cats, cardiomyopathies are the most common cardiovascular diseases. Cardiomyopathy usually leads to congestive heart failure, which is the main cause of death, and not the least among the complications of CMP is arterial thromboembolism.

There is no sex predisposition to the development of CMP in cats, but there is a breed predisposition (Ragdoll, Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest, British, Sphynx). Cats of different ages from 4 months to 16 years can get sick.

Animals distinguish between hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCMP), dilated (DCMP), restrictive (RCMP), arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), and unclassified (NCMP).
Diagnosis is made based primarily on ECHOCG.

In cats, the most common form is HCMP (2/3 of all CMPs), when the heart muscle thickens, which leads to impaired contractility, reduced volume of the left ventricle, respectively, reducing the volume of blood pumped through it. As a result of blood stasis, the left atrium, pulmonary veins increase and, subsequently, develop pulmonary oedema or accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity.  The scary thing is that the disease can manifest itself dramatically already at the stage of pulmonary oedema or sudden death of the cat (diagnosed posthumously).   The causes are not fully understood, but the leading role is attributed to heredity (see breeds above). A fairly common complication of HCMP is thromboembolism, usually a blockage of the femoral arteries, which is manifested by paralysis of the pelvic limbs and severe pain (cats scream and cannot lean on their hind legs). The earlier this complication is diagnosed and the sooner the cat is given expert help, the much better the chances of restoring blood flow and reducing the likely complications.

The drugs of choice for the treatment of feline cGMP are a group of beta-blockers, as well as, if necessary, IAPPs (Anchor: #Anchor: #), drugs for the prevention of thromboembolism, diuretics, calcium channel blockers.

To reduce mortality and early diagnosis in cat breeds prone to HCMP, doctors strongly recommend an ECHOCG, additionally a chest X-ray and ECG.

Cardiomyopathy in dogs

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP) is often registered in dogs, in which there is an expansion (stretching) of the heart cavities without changing the thickness of the walls of the heart chambers with impaired contractility, the heart stops "pumping" blood in the necessary volumes, which leads to the development of blood stasis (chronic heart failure).

There is a predisposition to DCMP in dogs of large breeds (often Dobermans), giant breeds, as well as registered sexual predisposition, more often occurs in males.

As in the case of HCMD, the earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the better, as the course of the disease is severe, therapy is effective only in the early stages, it is easier to control the course of the disease and the animal has a better chance of living longer.

Symptoms and signs of cardiomyopathy (CMP)

The most characteristic signs of cardiac pathology (cardiomyopathies) include:

coughing (with the exception of cats, coughing in cats is associated with respiratory disease, accumulation of hairballs, or the least common inflammatory causes - heartworms "dirofilariasis" or pneumonia);

exercise intolerance;

dyspnoea;

oppression;

emaciation;

fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity 

fainting;

decreased temperature;

limb paresis/paralysis (due to thromboembolism).

A diagnosis of cardiomyopathy is made on the basis of the collected anamnesis (medical history), clinical picture and cardiological examinations (sometimes additional examinations such as chest X-rays are also required).