Symptoms and treatment for congestive heart failure
Having to take any of our cats to the vet because of a sickness I would say has always been my biggest fear.
Early signs of congestive heart failure
It wasn't until after our cat Pinto was diagnosed with having congestive heart failure that I looked backed to see if there was any signs I might have ignored as a sign he had this condition. The only thing I remember was playing with with them using a string. He and his sister Gris would chase after it for hours if I could drag it across the floor that long. I hoped they would get tired before I did but it rarely happened. Pinto would take quick breaks every now and then while Gris kept on chasing. It seemed normal to me. Him being slightly heavier it made sense he would need to catch his breath.
He played, ran, ate, slept the same as his sister. Every Saturday family would come over to our house. It was like if our cats could sense the happiness and joy that they too would be very playful, not staying still at all, chasing each other jumping over us at times.
This behavior was consistent until one day. Pinto seemed less willing to play, wanting to stay laying down instead. This was out of ordinary.
When should you take your cat to the vet?
It is important to know your cat's behavior; the things he / she routinely does and how they normally act. If something seems odd you may want to observe them closer, and if it's something that could cause a health problem contact your vet.
I thought maybe he didn't sleep well last night A month earlier, at around 2 years old, he was neutered, so maybe a hormonal change was affecting his mood. Unfortunately things didn't get better. He would get up to eat, drink water, use the litter box, and then go back to sleep. As the next day came I checked on him first thing early in the morning. I could see his belly go up and down with each breath and seemed faster than usual. I offered him treats and he ate them, just not as eagerly as other times.
Being a Sunday I really hoped it wasn't something serious. By noon his breathing was still fast, but each breath sounded louder. It sounded like the tick of a clock, at the same speed; one per second. Since most vet clinics were closed that day I could have waited til the next day. But I couldn't bare the thought of him not making it; the thought of being able to save him if I had taken him to the vet sooner.
So I decided I wasn't going to wait. I searched online and found a clinic open for emergencies in the next town. I called ahead to make sure he could be tended.
Once there they took him right in and while he was being checked I had paper work to fill out with information from the cat's diet to credit card and even social security number. After anxiously waiting someone came out to inform me of his condition. I was expecting to hear that he had a cold, an insect bite, or maybe something he ate, that could be treated with a vaccine or some medication. I was not however expecting to be told by the doctor that my cat was having difficulty breathing because his lungs were being filled with liquid. His explanation was that his heart was larger than usual, pumping more blood throughout his body, and possibly going into my cat's lungs. I felt horribly devastated. How could he so sick if he didn't really show any previous symptoms.
I then learned something interesting that the vet mentioned: cats can hide their sickness very well and appear to be normal as long as they can, until they can't hold it any longer.
For my cat to get better, or somewhat stable, he needed to stay over night. His breathing was going be monitored continuosly and be put in some kind of respirator or oxygen chamber. Something that would cost slightly above $1,000.
The hardest thing for me was not the quote but leaving Pinto there alone, with people he didn't know. Would he think I just abandoned him? I tried not to cry in front of them but as I soon as I started to drive away I couldn't help it.
That night was one of my longest. The next day could not come soon enough. As soon as I got the call I went right away to pick up our baby. While the doctor was suggesting me to take my cat to a local vet to get the medicine he needed they brought Pinto out. As soon as he heard my voice a series of very unique meows came out. He was happy to know I had come back for him.
That same day at my local vet they did more tests (x-ray and blood test) and better explained what congestive heart failure is. To my understanding as cats age the walls around their heart thicken, meaning over time it gets harder to pump. Somehow my cat developed way earlier, at a younger age (2). Most likely it was hereditary and he was born with this now advanced condition.
The vet said he had 2 months to live at most. Being a religious person I thought to myself "Not if God has something to say about it". That was at the end of August. He prescribed two different pills, including Lasix to be taken daily to help with his breathing, and a capsule with a very small amount of aspirin to help prevent blood clots.
His condition did improve; his breathing would be fast only for short periods of times, it was mostly normal. He played, ran, and ate just like a normal cat. Every time I got home he would come to the door to go out for a walk and smell the plants around. If someone looked at him without knowing about his condition they would never know he was sick.
Getting to take his medication wasn't so complicated. He loved treats, and I would carve out the center and put the pills in them. The aspirin capsule was a slightly larger but he would eat it right out of my hand.
At his check ups every month the doctor was amazed at how alive he was. He said cats at this stage barely move, much less get up and walk around like Pinto did.
One day I took him out for his daily outdoor time. Then I left to run an errand. When I came back an hour later he wasn't there to greet me at the door. I went looking for him and found him laying by the bathroom door. When he saw me coming he attempted to stand up. But he couldn't. He couldn't move his rear legs. I picked him up and placed him by the bed, the spot where he had been sleeping lately, while I called the vet who suggested to brim him in as soon as posible. Luckily it was a few minutes before closing time. My other biggest fear was that this dreaded time came at night or on a weekend. I got the cat carrier and went to get Pinto; somehow he had managed to get on the bed.
The vet took him to the back to confirm what I kind of knew; that a blod clot had developed preventing blood to reaching to the rear of his body; his rear legs were starting to feel cold. This was a possibility from the beginning. With him taking medication his kidneys were working overtime. There wasn't anything else that could be done. To stop his suffering he was put down with a combination of injections.
Just before I and my sister who accompanied me were allowed some time alone with Pinto to say our final goodbye. Later we brought him home in box to be buried.
We lost one of our first furry pet who we raised since he was a baby, not 2 months after he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, but almost 6 aditional months we got to enjoy him. I attribute this extension to his will to live bringing us happiness and divine intervention.
I like to remember our cat as he was when healthy and happy, and writing this, reliving the whole process, shedding tears it isn't pleasant. But hopefully it can help in some way anyone reading this who is going or has been through the same situation.
Early signs of congestive heart failure
It wasn't until after our cat Pinto was diagnosed with having congestive heart failure that I looked backed to see if there was any signs I might have ignored as a sign he had this condition. The only thing I remember was playing with with them using a string. He and his sister Gris would chase after it for hours if I could drag it across the floor that long. I hoped they would get tired before I did but it rarely happened. Pinto would take quick breaks every now and then while Gris kept on chasing. It seemed normal to me. Him being slightly heavier it made sense he would need to catch his breath.
He played, ran, ate, slept the same as his sister. Every Saturday family would come over to our house. It was like if our cats could sense the happiness and joy that they too would be very playful, not staying still at all, chasing each other jumping over us at times.
This behavior was consistent until one day. Pinto seemed less willing to play, wanting to stay laying down instead. This was out of ordinary.
When should you take your cat to the vet?
It is important to know your cat's behavior; the things he / she routinely does and how they normally act. If something seems odd you may want to observe them closer, and if it's something that could cause a health problem contact your vet.
I thought maybe he didn't sleep well last night A month earlier, at around 2 years old, he was neutered, so maybe a hormonal change was affecting his mood. Unfortunately things didn't get better. He would get up to eat, drink water, use the litter box, and then go back to sleep. As the next day came I checked on him first thing early in the morning. I could see his belly go up and down with each breath and seemed faster than usual. I offered him treats and he ate them, just not as eagerly as other times.
Being a Sunday I really hoped it wasn't something serious. By noon his breathing was still fast, but each breath sounded louder. It sounded like the tick of a clock, at the same speed; one per second. Since most vet clinics were closed that day I could have waited til the next day. But I couldn't bare the thought of him not making it; the thought of being able to save him if I had taken him to the vet sooner.
So I decided I wasn't going to wait. I searched online and found a clinic open for emergencies in the next town. I called ahead to make sure he could be tended.
Once there they took him right in and while he was being checked I had paper work to fill out with information from the cat's diet to credit card and even social security number. After anxiously waiting someone came out to inform me of his condition. I was expecting to hear that he had a cold, an insect bite, or maybe something he ate, that could be treated with a vaccine or some medication. I was not however expecting to be told by the doctor that my cat was having difficulty breathing because his lungs were being filled with liquid. His explanation was that his heart was larger than usual, pumping more blood throughout his body, and possibly going into my cat's lungs. I felt horribly devastated. How could he so sick if he didn't really show any previous symptoms.
I then learned something interesting that the vet mentioned: cats can hide their sickness very well and appear to be normal as long as they can, until they can't hold it any longer.
For my cat to get better, or somewhat stable, he needed to stay over night. His breathing was going be monitored continuosly and be put in some kind of respirator or oxygen chamber. Something that would cost slightly above $1,000.
The hardest thing for me was not the quote but leaving Pinto there alone, with people he didn't know. Would he think I just abandoned him? I tried not to cry in front of them but as I soon as I started to drive away I couldn't help it.
That night was one of my longest. The next day could not come soon enough. As soon as I got the call I went right away to pick up our baby. While the doctor was suggesting me to take my cat to a local vet to get the medicine he needed they brought Pinto out. As soon as he heard my voice a series of very unique meows came out. He was happy to know I had come back for him.
That same day at my local vet they did more tests (x-ray and blood test) and better explained what congestive heart failure is. To my understanding as cats age the walls around their heart thicken, meaning over time it gets harder to pump. Somehow my cat developed way earlier, at a younger age (2). Most likely it was hereditary and he was born with this now advanced condition.
The vet said he had 2 months to live at most. Being a religious person I thought to myself "Not if God has something to say about it". That was at the end of August. He prescribed two different pills, including Lasix to be taken daily to help with his breathing, and a capsule with a very small amount of aspirin to help prevent blood clots.
His condition did improve; his breathing would be fast only for short periods of times, it was mostly normal. He played, ran, and ate just like a normal cat. Every time I got home he would come to the door to go out for a walk and smell the plants around. If someone looked at him without knowing about his condition they would never know he was sick.
Getting to take his medication wasn't so complicated. He loved treats, and I would carve out the center and put the pills in them. The aspirin capsule was a slightly larger but he would eat it right out of my hand.
At his check ups every month the doctor was amazed at how alive he was. He said cats at this stage barely move, much less get up and walk around like Pinto did.
One day I took him out for his daily outdoor time. Then I left to run an errand. When I came back an hour later he wasn't there to greet me at the door. I went looking for him and found him laying by the bathroom door. When he saw me coming he attempted to stand up. But he couldn't. He couldn't move his rear legs. I picked him up and placed him by the bed, the spot where he had been sleeping lately, while I called the vet who suggested to brim him in as soon as posible. Luckily it was a few minutes before closing time. My other biggest fear was that this dreaded time came at night or on a weekend. I got the cat carrier and went to get Pinto; somehow he had managed to get on the bed.
The vet took him to the back to confirm what I kind of knew; that a blod clot had developed preventing blood to reaching to the rear of his body; his rear legs were starting to feel cold. This was a possibility from the beginning. With him taking medication his kidneys were working overtime. There wasn't anything else that could be done. To stop his suffering he was put down with a combination of injections.
Just before I and my sister who accompanied me were allowed some time alone with Pinto to say our final goodbye. Later we brought him home in box to be buried.
We lost one of our first furry pet who we raised since he was a baby, not 2 months after he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, but almost 6 aditional months we got to enjoy him. I attribute this extension to his will to live bringing us happiness and divine intervention.
I like to remember our cat as he was when healthy and happy, and writing this, reliving the whole process, shedding tears it isn't pleasant. But hopefully it can help in some way anyone reading this who is going or has been through the same situation.