How serious is a Grade 3 heart murmur in a cat?
Loud heart murmurs (Grade 3-4/6 to 6/6) in a new puppy or kitty and soft heart murmurs that persist beyond 14-16 weeks of age should be evaluated by a cardiologist. This may indicate that congenital (present at birth) heart disease is present.
How serious is a Grade 5 heart murmur in a cat?
For instance, a cat with a grade 1 can have severe heart disease (i.e., cardiomyopathy). Meanwhile, another cat with a grade 5 murmur may have minimal heart abnormalities that would never cause any clinical signs or warrant any kind of heart treatment.
How do you grade a cat with a heart murmur?
A Grade I murmur is very soft or quiet, may only be heard intermittently, and is usually only heard in one location on the chest, while a Grade VI murmur is very loud, heard everywhere that the heart can be heard, and can be felt when a person places their hand on the chest in the area of the heart (in cardiac …
How long can a cat live with a Grade 5 heart murmur?
In most cases, the disease will continue to progress over time and heart function will become compromised. Cats that develop heart failure have a guarded prognosis and survival times are usually estimated to be 12 to 18 months after diagnosis.
What is a Grade 4 heart murmur?
A murmur graded 4, 5, or 6 is so loud you can actually feel a rumbling from it under the skin if you put your hand on the person’s chest. Most murmurs don’t mean anything is wrong. But sometimes they are a sign of a problem with the heart.
How long do cats live with stage 4 heart murmur?
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.
How long can a cat live with a grade 5 heart murmur?
Does a heart murmur shorten a cat’s life?
Heart murmur in cats life expectancy If the murmur is innocent, no treatment is needed and the prognosis is usually very good to excellent.
How long do cats live with a heart murmur?
Is a heart murmur serious in a cat?
A murmur is not always a cause for concern, but it can be an indication of heart disease, so other diagnostic tests may be warranted. Found in young kittens, innocent murmurs are essentially harmless and usually disappear by 4 months of age.