Bumpurr
RESPECT The- Star! | 
 | | Purred: Mon Dec 12, '11 5:00am PST |  | |  | | Here I am, and thank you to Finney for telling me about Mutzi, be very glad to help! 
First, take a breath, this is not a death sentence, it is very manageable. Bump was diagnosed at 10 months, 2 cardiologists said he would not live past 1 yr old. I said oh heck no, find me another cardiologist. My vet and I did extensive research on this, talked to Maine Coon breeders, talked to Ragdoll breeders, talked to other vets, even had the Winn Foundation involved. Bump turned 5 yrs old last month. He plays with the kittens, runs with them thru the house at warp speed, like crazy boys. He is doing very well, its just management.
You may have already done these tests, but in case you haven't you need to get them done.
You need an x-ray, to determine if there is fluid on the heart or lungs, that also determines if lasix needs to be given, which, if you go that route, make sure its the cardiologist that prescribes it. You need an ultrasound, that is the only true way, to determine the proper grade, and the proper treatment. Bump is also a grade 3. You need a CBC and Wellness blood panel, the vets also call it a mini screen, and **insist** it be sent to Antech, they are a lab, the best in the country, and they have specialists there that work with your vet. You need to know if any values are too high or too low, if there are other issues going on, and you need to know what his normal values are now, for the vet to look back on, to see if an issue might be starting.
They usually put them on Atenenol, its a blood thiner, and baby aspirin, usual dose is 1 every 3 days, that is to prevent clots, but your vet needs to work with your cardiologist, to determine if these meds are needed, and what the dose should be, they usually start with the lower dose, and adjust.
You need to get him on a grain free, by product free, soy free, gluten free food, and most importantly, one that is LOW IN SALT, this one is imperative. I feed Blue Wilderness chicken, the blue one, its by Blue Buffalo, just avoid the bag, with the code of Nov 11 12 on it, long story. This is the food Bump picked, he wouldn;t eat any of the other foods, and his cardiologist at UC Davis, approved this food. You also have to keep him flushed out. Wet is better, mix it with lukewarm water, so its real real soupy, twice a day. Bump won't eat any wet, period, so he gets the dry. If you need to go the dry route, let me know, will tell you what to do, this is what his vet and card came up with.
You now have a kitty that has a compromised immune system. Thats why he has to be fed a quality food, thats why you have to keep him hydrated, its management. You also have to be aware of his health. Any change in his health, or personality, he needs to go in to the vet, whatever it is, it needs to be caught and treated quickly, this is the key. When Bump does have an issue, he goes on L-Lysine, its an immune booster, which he doesn't like, and about the time he refuses to take it anymore, is about the time he is over his issue. He will be suseptable to upper respitory infections and eye infections, also called herpes. Bump hasn't had any of these in awhile, but he did at the beginning, until his body adjusted, he went in at the first sign, and got over it quickly. If your kitty will take it, its a good idea to put him on it, but run it by your vet first. Your vet *needs* to know, any meds the kitty is on, prescription or over the counter, NEVER give any over the counter meds, without checking with your vet first, as some meds, prescription or over the counter, that are fine for most cats, will kill a heart kitty. Centrine is one, *never* let your kitty be given Centrine. Its an anti spazmodic, similiar to Pepto Bismal for us. Before your kitty is given any meds, you need to ask, is this safe for a heart kitty. Its now your responsibilty. Never accept probably or I don't know, make them look it up.
Its also very very important the kitty be kept in a stress free household. You cannot stress about this, he will pick up on it.
HCM is hypertropic cardiomyopathy. It helped me too, to understand exactly, what it was, I asked like about a zillion questions.
It means the left ventrical does not open and close properly, it lets in too much blood, or not enough, it should open and shut tight, like your front door, instead, it swings in the wind, like a saloon door, is how my vet explained it.
Everytime you take him in, for anything, make them check his heart and blood pressure. You need periodical x-rays and blood panels done, to make sure nothing has changed, and so they get a gist, on how his "normal" is.
Its just management. Be very glad to help you and ans any questions you have.
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