Cardiomyopathy - what's the best course of action for diagnosis?

Jasmine (age about 5-6 months) has been doing some panting after
strenuous exercise and so I've made an appointment to have her checked
for cardiomyopathy.

What I'm wondering is how is this diagnosed? The panting is her only
symptom, so I'm hopeful it's just that she doesn't know when to quit
running.

My vet does not have a sonogram machine. Is a sonogram an absolute must?

Juls

--
Email (remove annoying hyphens)
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My Sammy has a grade III/VI heart murmur. He then had an electrocardiogram.
That is just an ultrasound with a special machine. The machine can measure
many things like size of heart and the thickness of the heart wall. An
x-ray might show something but an ultrasound would be better.

--
Larry - Owned by ten cats
"Juls" wrote in message
...
Jasmine (age about 5-6 months) has been doing some panting after
strenuous exercise and so I've made an appointment to have her checked
for cardiomyopathy.

What I'm wondering is how is this diagnosed? The panting is her only
symptom, so I'm hopeful it's just that she doesn't know when to quit
running.

My vet does not have a sonogram machine. Is a sonogram an absolute must?

Juls

--
Email (remove annoying hyphens)
j-u-l-i-AT-e-c-t-DOT-o-r-g

On 2005-11-11 16:45:32 -0600, Juls said:

Jasmine (age about 5-6 months) has been doing some panting after
strenuous exercise and so I've made an appointment to have her checked
for cardiomyopathy.

What I'm wondering is how is this diagnosed? The panting is her only
symptom, so I'm hopeful it's just that she doesn't know when to quit
running.

My vet does not have a sonogram machine. Is a sonogram an absolute must?

Juls

If you are really worried about it, you would want an ultrasound. When
is her appt?

In article 2005111119254627590%kchuplis@alltelnet,
Karen wrote:

On 2005-11-11 16:45:32 -0600, Juls said:

Jasmine (age about 5-6 months) has been doing some panting after
strenuous exercise and so I've made an appointment to have her checked
for cardiomyopathy.

What I'm wondering is how is this diagnosed? The panting is her only
symptom, so I'm hopeful it's just that she doesn't know when to quit
running.

My vet does not have a sonogram machine. Is a sonogram an absolute must?

Juls

If you are really worried about it, you would want an ultrasound. When
is her appt?

Wednesday. I guess I'm worried that my vet will listen to her heart and
say she's fine...and then what. I just want what's best for Jas.

--
Email (remove annoying hyphens)
j-u-l-i-AT-e-c-t-DOT-o-r-g

"Juls" wrote

Wednesday. I guess I'm worried that my vet will listen to her heart and
say she's fine...and then what. I just want what's best for Jas.


If her heart sounds fine, but you are still worried, have an ultrasound to
make sure.

My cat has fainting spells. Her heart sounded fine, albeit fast. We had an
ultrasound
at my regular vet's--it cost $260 and she was awake for it, and the worst
she got
was a shaved chest. Her heart is fine, though she is on a beta blocker to
keep
the beat slowed down so that she will not have fibrillation, which is what
we think
caused the fainting spells.

Juls wrote:

In article 2005111119254627590%kchuplis@alltelnet,
Karen wrote:


On 2005-11-11 16:45:32 -0600, Juls said:


Jasmine (age about 5-6 months) has been doing some panting after
strenuous exercise and so I've made an appointment to have her checked
for cardiomyopathy.

What I'm wondering is how is this diagnosed? The panting is her only
symptom, so I'm hopeful it's just that she doesn't know when to quit
running.

My vet does not have a sonogram machine. Is a sonogram an absolute must?

Juls

If you are really worried about it, you would want an ultrasound. When
is her appt?


Wednesday. I guess I'm worried that my vet will listen to her heart and
say she's fine...and then what. I just want what's best for Jas.


Ultrasound is the only way, listening doesn't diagnose the issue.

On 2005-11-11 19:31:14 -0600, Juls said:

In article 2005111119254627590%kchuplis@alltelnet,
Karen wrote:

On 2005-11-11 16:45:32 -0600, Juls said:

Jasmine (age about 5-6 months) has been doing some panting after
strenuous exercise and so I've made an appointment to have her checked
for cardiomyopathy.

What I'm wondering is how is this diagnosed? The panting is her only
symptom, so I'm hopeful it's just that she doesn't know when to quit
running.

My vet does not have a sonogram machine. Is a sonogram an absolute must?

Juls

If you are really worried about it, you would want an ultrasound. When
is her appt?

Wednesday. I guess I'm worried that my vet will listen to her heart and
say she's fine...and then what. I just want what's best for Jas.

Well, I think you have to make that call. I will say again, I had the
same trouble with SUgar at that age. I've never had a cat that didn't
know when to stop, but she sure didn't. We've never had any trouble
with her heart. I've seen people post it before. So, I don't think it
is that rare at that age.

"Joe Canuck" wrote

Ultrasound is the only way, listening doesn't diagnose the issue.


And in fact ultrasound may only diagnose structural problems
or "regular" function problems. In other words, my kitty's behavior
suggests that she fibrillates (or her heart beats irregularly for short
periods) and yet the ultrasound showed a normal heart.

In article , "cybercat"
wrote:

"Joe Canuck" wrote

Ultrasound is the only way, listening doesn't diagnose the issue.


And in fact ultrasound may only diagnose structural problems
or "regular" function problems. In other words, my kitty's behavior
suggests that she fibrillates (or her heart beats irregularly for short
periods) and yet the ultrasound showed a normal heart.

Well, this is all very helpful, and I thank you all. I guess I'll just
play it by ear next week.

I do feel more optimistic hearing of others whose kittens didn't know
when to stop. Jas is sure like that, and with the laser dot, she just
won't quit. I've never seen a kitten who goes like she does.

--
Email (remove annoying hyphens)
j-u-l-i-AT-e-c-t-DOT-o-r-g

"Juls" wrote in message
...
In article , "cybercat"
wrote:

"Joe Canuck" wrote

Ultrasound is the only way, listening doesn't diagnose the issue.


And in fact ultrasound may only diagnose structural problems
or "regular" function problems. In other words, my kitty's behavior
suggests that she fibrillates (or her heart beats irregularly for short
periods) and yet the ultrasound showed a normal heart.

Well, this is all very helpful, and I thank you all. I guess I'll just
play it by ear next week.

I do feel more optimistic hearing of others whose kittens didn't know
when to stop. Jas is sure like that, and with the laser dot, she just
won't quit. I've never seen a kitten who goes like she does.

--

Juls--try not to worry. I have seen your photos of Jasmine, and she
looks like an angel--I can tell you really love her. It will be okay.
She could not be in better hands. (P.S. She might calm down
after she has been there a while and gets used to having her brother
to play with don't you think?)