Can cats with HCM go under anesthesia?

Anesthesia should not be performed in cats with definite signs of congestive heart failure due to HCM. In HCM, left ventricular myocardium thickens (concentric hypertrophy) resulting in stiff chamber.

How is cat anesthesia given?

The most common combination is a pre-anesthetic sedative and analgesic combination that is administered by injection, followed by an induction agent that is also administered by injection. Once the pet is unconscious, a breathing tube, called an endotracheal tube, is inserted into the windpipe or trachea.

Can anesthesia cause heart failure in cats?

This increased myocardial work and oxygen consumption is most profound at anesthetic doses (5 to 10 mg/kg IV) and can be detrimental to cats with cardiovascular disease, especially hypertrophic heart disease, potentially causing ventricular arrhythmias.

What drug is commonly used for cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

If congestive heart failure is present, dietary salt reduction is also recommended. Medications commonly used for HCM: Beta-adrenergic blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin) or propanolol (Inderal). These medications slow the heart rate, which enhances filling and relaxation of the pumping chambers.

Should you euthanize a cat with congestive heart failure?

If the pet has a condition like congestive heart failure, or untreatable brain cancer — a disease that will, unchecked, lead to a painful death — the recommendation may be for euthanasia sooner instead of later.

Can my cat have surgery with a heart murmur?

If the murmur is already affecting your pet, we will recommend a series of tests based on your pet’s specific signs and symptoms. Some tests should always be performed before scheduling a procedure requiring anesthesia for animals with a heart murmur.

How long does it take for anesthesia to wear off in cats?

After surgery, your cat may experience minor personality changes such as crankiness, aggression, or sensitivity. These changes are due to anesthesia and should not last more than 24-48 hours after surgery.

What happens if a cat eats before anesthesia?

Stop Food. Your pet will need to stop eating prior to surgery. If your dog or cat eats prior to surgery then vomits, stomach contents can travel to the lungs and cause infections, pneumonia or respiratory distress syndrome.

Can cats have a bad reaction to anesthesia?

Cats can be allergic to local or general anesthetics, and symptoms may vary depending on the severity of the allergy. Some cats will only experience a bit of swelling and irritation where the anesthesia was injected or applied topically, while others will begin to go into anaphylactic shock or cardiac arrest.

Are cats with HCM in pain?

The effect of the clot depends on its location, although in cats with HCM, clots most commonly result in blockage of blood flow to the hind limbs, causing acute hind limb pain or, in extreme cases, hind limb paralysis.

How Long Can cats live with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

It is not unusual for patients to become symptomatic without any suspicion of previous heart disease. Once in congestive heart failure, most cats with HCM have a life expectancy of 6 and 18 months.

What does it mean when a cat has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition that causes the muscular walls of a cat’s heart to thicken, decreasing the heart’s efficiency and sometimes creating symptoms in other parts of the body.

How does hypertrophic cardiomyopathy lead to cardiac anesthesia?

Hypertrophic Myocardial Disease (Cardiac Anesthesia) Introduction. Often hereditary (underlying pathophysiology is an excess of calcium channels), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy leads to decreased LVEDV secondary to the hypertrophic heart (stroke volume, by contrast, remains normal).

Can a cat with cardiomyopathy be sedated?

Cats with cardiomyopathies present unique sedation and anesthesia challenges, depending on the type of myocardial disease. Although numerous cardiomyopathies occur in cats, the most common is hypertrophic (obstructive) cardiomyopathy.

What happens to the heart of a cat with HCM?

In a cat with HCM, the heart’s left ventricle (its primary “pump muscle”) is thickened, leading to a decrease in the volume of the heart chamber and to abnormal relaxation of the heart muscle. These changes can cause the heart to beat rapidly, resulting in increased oxygen usage and possibly to oxygen starvation of the heart muscle.