Prevalence of heart disease in symptomatic cats: an overview from 1998 to 2005.
A total of 408 cats with various cardiovascular problems has been presented to two investigational clinics during the last 8 years. The number of yearly examinations has steadily increased during this period. Definitive cardiovascular disease was diagnosed in 287 cats, whereby hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) was the most common diagnosis with 67.6%. Congenital cardiovascular malformations were found in 11.8% of the cases. Ventricular septal defect (VSD) was the most frequent anomaly, in contrast to previously published studies. The ECG was found to be relatively non-specific and insensitive for the diagnosis of heart disease: Its usefulness lies in the recognition and diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias. The radiographically recognized changes were also non-specific for certain heart diseases. Radiographs of the thorax are especially useful in the evaluation of cardiomegaly, and secondary signs of congestion.
Riesen
S C
SC
Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, University of Berne, Switzerland. Sabine.Riesen@kkh.unibe.ch
Kovacevic
A
A
Lombard
C W
CW
Amberger
C
C
D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002415:Cats; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology