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- Rare in dogs
- Common in cats
Signalment
Dogs: Rare
Cats: Pedigrees (e.g. Persians, Maine Coons) & mixed breeds; Occurs in young pedigrees and young to old mixed breeds; Male>Female
Description
- Left ventricular concentric hypertrophy without an identifiable cause is known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The ventricular myocardium becomes so thick that the lumen is reduced to a size that is not compatible with maintaining the heart's function as a pump. The left ventricle no longer has the capacity to hold normal volumes of blood during diastole. As a result, the left atrium dilates from the increased pressure and volume of blood backing up into the lungs.
Diagnosis
History & Clinical Signs
-Asymptomatic
-Hindlimb paresis or weakness (saddle thrombus see in cats)
-Signs of left-sided heart failure
Physical Exam:
-Systolic murmur
-Ventricular arrhythmias
Radiography=
-Left atrial enlargement
-Enlarged heart
-Pulmonary congestion & edema
Electrocardiography (ECG)=
-Tall R wave
-Wide QRS
-Ventricular arrhythmias
-Conduction disturbances
-Sinus tachycardia
Echocardiography
-Left ventricular concentric hypertrophy
-Left atrial enlargement
-Mitral valve insufficiency
Treatment
-Treat the individual symptoms
Contraindications: Arterial Vasodilators; Positive Inotrops
Prognosis
-Poor for symptomatic cats