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My vet has told me that he has a heart murmur but it is a "three" which is lowest on the scale.
I live in a very small town and was told I would need to take him 120 miles round trip for an ultrasound.
He is nearly 9 years old and I am on SSD and can't afford the cost of the ultrasound. I called the out of town clinic and was told $800.00 just for the ultrasound.
I do know Maine Coons are predisposed to cardiomyopathy. Does anyone know if a heart murmur automatically means my cat suffers from cardiomyopathy?
I once had a dog who was diagnosed as having a heart murmur when she was only 6 years old but she lived 8 more years with no tests or treatment. The tests weren't available that many years ago, and when she did have to be put to sleep, it was not because of heart problems, but rather what the vet said was cancer of the liver.
I want to do what I can for my beloved cat, but due to being on an extremely limited income I cannot afford $800.00 for an ultrasound.
They found my beautiful Giz had a gage 3 murmur years ago on one of her annual visits. My doctor discussed all the options including the same one given to you by yours.
I choose not to put Giz through all the tests since it would not change the outcome and we just put her on the medication (Enalapril 1/4 of a 5mg pill) and she has been doing fine ever since. All he asked was that I bring her in early one day and leave her for the day so they could check her blood pressure off and on all day and he wouldn't charge me for that.
I know the shock of being told this since I was right where you are. I was so upset, one of my babies had a health problem and it would be lifelong.... My vet told me a lot of people choose to do nothing and the majority live a good and normal life...
Don't let that vet talk you into expensive tests that you can't afford.. Ask him about other options, then select what you are comfortable with.
They found my beautiful Giz had a gage 3 murmur years ago on one of her annual visits. My doctor discussed all the options including the same one given to you by yours.
I choose not to put Giz through all the tests since it would not change the outcome and we just put her on the medication (Enalapril 1/4 of a 5mg pill) and she has been doing fine ever since. All he asked was that I bring her in early one day and leave her for the day so they could check her blood pressure off and on all day and he wouldn't charge me for that.
I know the shock of being told this since I was right where you are. I was so upset, one of my babies had a health problem and it would be lifelong.... My vet told me a lot of people choose to do nothing and the majority live a good and normal life...
Don't let that vet talk you into expensive tests that you can't afford.. Ask him about other options, then select what you are comfortable with.
Thank you! My local vet told me that their clinic would not even CONSIDER prescribing any medication until I took my kitty for the ultrasound.
This same vet who told me my precious cat has a heart murmur, ALSO put him under anesthesia just for a regular check up. That alone could have caused his heart to fail. Really? My cat hissed at him, and the vet told me to leave the room.
It was two hours later that the vet came into the waiting room and told me they had put my cat under anesthesia.
If they knew he had a heart murmur, then that gas alone could have killed him since they admitted they gave him multiple doses over a two hour period.
Location: Los Angeles>Little Rock>Houston>Little Rock
6,489 posts, read 8,812,030 times
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My Catfish lived a very long life with a heart murmur and never took any medication for it. I think she was 5-6 when it was discovered and she was 16 when she finally passed away from Lymphoma.
My Catfish lived a very long life with a heart murmur and never took any medication for it. I think she was 5-6 when it was discovered and she was 16 when she finally passed away from Lymphoma.
Thank you for your response. My vet made it sound like I would be to blame for not paying the $800.00 which I can't afford.
I am now beginning to think that vets and the "specialists" they refer us to are in cahoots.
My nearly 9 year old Maine Coon is active, with NO signs of slowing down UNLESS my vet sedates him with gas for more than two hours at a time and billing me for the gas to the tune of $300.00.
Thanks for reassuring me that what a vet claims is not NECESSARILY the final word.
Just as in human medicine, it now seems that in some cases veterinary medicine in more about MONEY than actually caring about our beloved pets.
Status:
" Charleston South Carolina"
(set 5 days ago)
Location: home...finally, home .
8,814 posts, read 21,277,348 times
Reputation: 20102
Gracie my Maine Coon was born with a heart murmur and lived very healthfully with it for 15 years. She died of e-coli (which for the life of me I cannot imagine how she contracted since she was an indoor cat). But, the heart murmur , I believe, is not unusual in pure bred Maine Coons. Don't worry, your cat will be fine.
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