Dilated cardiomyopathy in cats

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Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease of the ventricular muscle, characterized by a loss of muscle tone of the heart. The heart loses its strength and tone and becomes enlarged, filled with blood and unable to contract properly. Before the mid 1980's this was one of the most commonly diagnosed heart diseases of cats. Most cats probably had secondary cardiomyopathy as a result of taurine deficiency. Due to changes in diet formulation, this is now an uncommon cause of heart disease in cats. There may also be a genetic component in Siamese, Abyssinian, and Burmese cats. Clinical signs are related to low cardiac output: loss of appetite, weakness, depression, difficulty breathing, and thromboemboli causing painful paralysis. Diagnosis is made by x-ray and ultrasound. Ultrasound is the definitive diagnostic tool. Treatment is that of congestive heart failure, with the use of digoxin, diuretics such as furosemide, and supplementation of taurine. Prognosis is poor despite intensive therapy.