https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/8-13-smudge-amps-202.233558/ Blue again, hopefully we can stay here awhile, she obviously feels better when lower.
You look better in blue, Smudge Have a nice Friday Bridget - stay cool and safe! Does Smudge have HCM? How was he diagnosed with heart disease? Echo? Did you also get the pro BNP blood test?
I'd have to go dig for the official diagnosis, but it was via echo/ultrasound by a specialist. No blood test, went straight from the gallop rhythm and built up fluid straight to the specialist. I just know there are "changes" in all four parts of the heart.
Thank you Bridget. Good catch and timing for you and Smudge. Lately I have experienced and heard about more vets suggesting the Cardio Pet Pro BNP (if testing under 100, no major heart issues predicted), in order to save money, and forgo the Echocardiogram. I've also heard we shouldn't rely solely on that predictive blood test. I'm glad the heart meds are working well for Smudge I think it's time for Tina to have a follow up Echo.
Ollie had the probnp on her 1st visit. Since she has maine coon, Persian in her I wanted it done. It was negative. But Ollie still wasn't right (Remember at this time I only had her 1 week). I wasn't happy with vet saying give her time to settle in and get insulin going (she only got sporadic insulin before me). I went to ER and had the abdominal ultrasound. He picked up galloping heart as well as ascites and the mass. This was on a Thursday. Monday, cardiologist did echo and she had grade 2 murmur and hcm. This was in the first 3 weeks I had her. There is another test NT-proBNP that is being done to monitor heart failure. I don't know if that is being done in cats yet. If so, it could be a good test to add to routine blood work if your kitty has heart failure. Here is some reading. https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/cardiac-blood-tests-in-cats/ https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/84291&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjKmffd-JrrAhUqhHIEHd07CL8QFjAPegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw2PXbtZ0makgVVpDpRiR-r9
