title: Prevalence of echocardiographic evidence of cardiac disease in apparently healthy cats with murmurs.
abstract: The objective of this prospective study was to determine the prevalence of echocardiographic evidence of heart disease in apparently healthy cats with heart murmurs. Thirty-two privately owned domestic cats were examined. All cats were considered healthy on the basis of history and physical examination, except for the finding of a heart murmur on auscultation. Cats on any medications (besides regular flea, tick and heartworm preventative) or that were pregnant or lactating were excluded from this study. The prevalence of echocardiographic evidence of heart disease in this population of cats was 53%. Therefore, identification of a heart murmur on routine physical examination in apparently healthy cats warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Veterinary Care Center, 15926 Hawthorne Blvd, Lawndale, CA 90260, USA. r.kiyoshi.nakamura@gmail.com
authors.forename: Reid K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rishniw
authors.forename: Megan K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Carl D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Sammarco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002415:Cats; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D006337:Heart Murmurs / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies