.svg)
Cat heart murmur – is it always serious?
📞 Appointment booking for cardiac examinations: 010 739 9130
📍 Sacrum Animal Hospital, Porttisuontie 13, 01200 Vantaa
Quick answer: A cat's heart murmur doesn't always indicate a serious illness, but it should be carefully evaluated. In cats, heart disease can be asymptomatic for a long time, and an ultrasound provides the most accurate information about the situation.
Cats are skilled at hiding their symptoms. Therefore, a heart murmur is an important finding, even if your cat seems completely normal at home.
When to see a vet?
Contact a veterinarian if any of the following apply:
- Your cat gets out of breath, tires easily, or hides.
- Your cat has difficulty breathing.
- The murmur is new or loud.
- It's a breed with an HCM risk (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy).
What can cause the symptom?
1. HCM
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is one of the most common heart diseases in cats.
2. Stress or a temporary finding
Not all murmurs indicate a serious illness, but the cause should always to determine in cats.
3. Other structural heart changes
Ultrasound reveals if there are changes in the heart that require medication or monitoring.
What can you do at home?
- Monitor your cat's breathing at rest.
- Avoid unnecessary stress if your cat shows symptoms.
- Contact the emergency service immediately, if your cat has difficulty breathing.
What happens at the vet?
A cardiac ultrasound shows the thickness of the heart muscle, heart size, and changes in blood flow.
Sacrum Animal Hospital can help
If you are unsure about the severity of a symptom, it's better to contact us than to wait too long. A professional can help assess whether it's an emergency or if an appointment can be scheduled for examination.
📞 Appointment booking for cardiac examinations: 010 739 9130
📍 Sacrum Animal Hospital, Porttisuontie 13, 01200 Vantaa
Did your vet hear a heart murmur in your dog? Read when a murmur requires further examination and what a cardiac ultrasound reveals.
The dog goes limp and can't afford weight on the leg? Read the veterinarian's instructions: is it a cruciate ligament injury, wound or sprain? When to go on call?
Is your dog limping on a front leg or favoring a shoulder? Read about the most common causes of front leg lameness and when a vet examination is necessary.
When is a dog a senior? Blood tests and examinations at the age of 7-8 years will reveal latent diseases in time. Book a senior check in Vantaa.
Do you suspect a cruciate ligament injury in your dog? Read about the typical symptoms, examinations, and when TPLO surgery may be considered.
Does your cat vomit hairballs or food? Weekly vomiting is not normal. Read about the most common causes: food allergy, IBD or foreign object.