Conference misery::feline_v1

SHOW KEY/FULL CARDIO*

will return the numbers of other notes on the subject.

Pam

    Roberta must be home sick today or has left the earth entirely.
    A whole day has passed and she hasn't replied to this note
    She lost a beautiful blue point Ragdoll a few months ago with
    this thing.  I know Roberta will respond to this as soon as she
    reads it. She is very sensitive to the issue and is one nice person
    who is always willing to share all her knowledge on this subject.
    
    Barbara
    
    

    In the mean time you can contact her at FSOA::RKAGNO.

    Yes!  Gonezo came down with this mystery disease about 3 years ago.  He
    started out limping and then wouldn't eat.  He ended up in intensive
    care at the vets and they ran all sorts of tests on him.  Finally, an
    EKG was run and it showed an abnormality.  He was put on some
    medication and it was suggested I take him to Angell Memorial
    Hospital's cardiology unit for an ultrasound on his heart.  I can't
    remember the name of the doctor, but he's one of the tops in the
    country specializing in animal heart problems.  Anyway, 3 weeks after
    the hospitalization, I finally brought Gonezo to Angell.  The doctor
    did an ultrasound on him but found nothing!  At this point, Gonezo had
    started to act normal anyway but it was suggested I take him in anyway
    to get an idea of what was wrong in case it happened again.
    
    At the height of his being sick, Gonezo was running a 104-105 temp, was
    not eating and lost 2 1/2 lbs, was listless, and liked to hide in
    closets or some other remote, hard to find area.  This in itself lasted
    about 1 1/2 - 2 weeks and then he snapped out of it.  He's never had a
    problem since.
    
    Good luck with your kitty.  I hope you're kitty is as fortunate as
    Gonezo was.
    
    Mary
    

    Hi, I'm Roberta as described in reply #2.
    
    Yes, Barbara is right.  I did lose a 10 month old kitten to a heart
    disease; however, it was not cardiomyopathy.  Shelby died of a heart
    disease that is specific to his breed of cat.  It doesn't happen
    often but has cropped up in breeding programs every now and then
    from cats of his lineage.
    
    Cardiomyopathy means failure of the heart muscle.  There are three
    types of cardiomyopathy, Dialative, which experts have linked to
    a Taurine deficiency, Hypertrophic, and Restrictive.  I believe
    Hypertrophic is the form of cardio for which there is no cure; however,
    studies have indicated that it can be treated with medication and
    prolong the cat's life as a result.  I'm no expert so can only
    speculate; however, I do have an article at home that discusses
    the new medicines available for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and
    the studies done to test them.  If I remember, I will bring it in
    tomorrow and type it as a reply to this note.
    
    
    --Roberta
    
    
    

    The Robert H. Winn foundation is currently funding a study on 
    Cardiomyopathy.  The study is being done at the Univesity of California
    at Davis.  You may want to give them a call to get more information
    about this disease.  
    
    Also, CFA, The Cat Fanciers Association, can send you some pamphlets
    that have condensed some of the findings of this study into a format
    that is easy for us to understand.  The pamphlets are free.  Call
    CFA and they will send them to you.  The number is in the addresses
    note, I think it is #666.
    
    Jo

    The number for CFA is: 201-531-2390
    

	 I lost  my  girl-kitty  (Becky) to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
     Since  Becky  died,  I  have had a chance to talk with a few people
     regarding  the disease.  What I know is the following (much of this
     information  comes  from  a  veterinary cardiologist who goes to my
     mom's church in NYC):

	1) not much is known about the disease.  It is hard to determine
	   whether it is genetically linked since so many cats come from
           unknown parentage (strays, shelters, someones miscellaneous 
	   female cat who 'found' some un-neutered male, etc)

	2) The way to check for it if it is suspected is to have and 
	   echocardiogram done.  3 'local' vets were recommended to me
	   by Dr. Bond in NYC:  Dr. Harpster at angell Memorial, Dr. 
	   Frank Pipers (last known to be at Tufts), and Paul Kaplan, 
	   who according to Dr. Bond, is somewhere in the Boston area.

	3) according to another friend who works for a vet, one method
	   of treating 'cardio' is with taurine, also mentioned in an
	   earlier note.

	4) according to my vet, 'cardio' can sometimes be detected as a
	   heart murmur or an increased heart rate.  (Very hard to detect
	   in a kitty who is already nervous in a dr's office)

	 Other than this, I can't offer much else other than another ear
     to  talk  to  (mail  node?).   Although  I have not yet had Becky's
     (real)  brother  tested,  I  do  intend to have it done, as soon as
     finances  will allow.  Most likely by Dr.  Harpster.  It's worth it
     to me.


Kathy

    Taurine can be used to help cats that have Dilative Cardio as a
    result of taurine deficiency.  You may want to have the tests done
    to try and determine which type of cardio you may be dealing with.
    
    Jo

    THANKS - I'm encouraged by all your advice and support! My vet (Dr.
    Damitz) did advise testing to determine which type of cardio Critter
    may have, and talked about taurine deficiency as well.  
    
    When I wrote the note, I was feeling overwhelmed, since my last cat
    lived until he was 16 and never had health problems.  As Dr. Damitz 
    (initially) described possible hyperthyroidism or cardiomyopathy, I
    felt as though he was describing my grandmother, particularly when he 
    mentioned research in the field, etc.!
    
    We are going ahead with the cardio testing.  Meanwhile, Critter SEEMS a
    bit better...her fur had a peculiar, almost greasy look to it which has
    gone away, and, although she is very thin, I think she may be putting
    on a little weight.  She eats enough for two cats, but is always in the
    sandbox...for awhile I thought she might be diabetic because of the
    large quantities of urine, but her blood sugar and urine tested normal.
    She still breathes heavily, but doesn't look as frantic as she did last
    week.  
    
    Thanks again for your support and encouragement!
    
    
    

    Hi to Carol and to Kathy Romberg...
    
    I've just gotten off the phone with Carol, and finished reading
    these notes.
    
    As an aside, Kathy, Dr. Harpster did the heart surgery (!) on
    HopeyCat, who is now a show super star!  I "saved" him (and am 
    still paying monthly for it) because I couldn't bear to have this
    little 12 week old kitty die within months, or a year at most.
    I guess there is some truth to the statement that you get paid back
    when you least expect it...Hopey turned out to be a 2-show CFA
    grand...my very first!...and I did NOT realize he was show quality.
    (His brother is living in Acton with a family that has no idea that
    they probably have a top quality "looker" that I sold as a pet...just
    wanted him to have a good home, and they seemed to be ready to give
    lots of love to a kitty...)  His name comes from the surgery.  History:
    When I brought him to Angell to Dr. Harpster they wanted a name,
    and he had no name as I had planned to sell him, but couldn't when
    I found out he was sick.  So, upset about a possible serious but
    exceedingly rare heart problem, I gave the receptionist the name
    "Doom and Gloom".  Then he was scheduled for surgery in another
    day, and at the last minute, when I visited to say 'goodbye just
    in case', I also changed his name to Blue Hope (he is a Russian
    Blue) because I got silly and superstitious about his going under
    the knife with at name like 'D & G'!  He looked awful afterwards,
    but bounced back FAST.  I give Dr. Harpster the HIGHEST recommendation!
    (He also helped with a C-section in another cat.)
    
    Carol, the "greasy" look on the fur is often a sign of dehydration,
    which your cat probably had from the vomiting and diarrhea.  Once
    they get their fluids back to sort-of-normal their coats tend to
    look fluffy again also.  Do you live closer to Tufts (Grafton) than
    to Angell (Boston)?  One consultation with a specialist might be
    very helpful, and shouldn't cost an arm and leg (choose arm OR leg,
    heh, heh  ;-).  Dr. Harpster specializes in cardiology and internal
    medicine.
    
    I hope the renewed energy level is a good sign!!!
    
    Good luck,
    		Pennie