You may not notice right away if your cat has an irregular heartbeat, since our feline friends are very good at hiding pain and medical issues. Our Ankeny vets define heart arrhythmias in cats, and list their causes and potential treatment options.
Irregular Heartbeats in Cats
Your cat's heart is controlled by an electrical conduction system (the sinoartial node), which is responsible for controlling the heart rate. This system works much like a control center and generates electrical impulses, or waves, that flow in a specific path through the heart's muscles. A healthy heart muscle then contracts and pumps blood through the arteries out to the body.
When the path of the electrical signals is interrupted, or when signals are generated abnormally, this results in a cardiac arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat.
Irregular heart rhythms affect many cats and are defined by an abnormality in the cycling of electrical impulses that regulate the heart's beating. This causes the heart rate to beat either too fast or too slow, or sometimes, to skip beats.
Though a heart arrhythmia does not always indicate a serious condition, it's important to take note of. Your cat's heart may beat irregularly from time to time due to fear, nervousness, or stress. Some breeds, like Himalayans, Maine Coons, and Persians, tend to be more susceptible to irregular heart rhythms than others.
Signs of an Irregular Heartbeat
It is important to understand the signs of an irregular heartbeat in cats so that you know what to do and when to bring your cat in to see the vet. Common signs and symptoms of irregular heart rhythms include:
- Heart beats too fast
- Heart beats too slow
- Heart gallop (during a cycle of contractions, instead of the normal two beats, a third sound is audible)
- Heart murmur, due to turbulent blood flow in the heart)
- Physical weakness, due to too long of a pause between heartbeats
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of consciousness
- Rapid breathing
- Pale gums
- Loss of appetite
Causes of Irregular Heartbeats
The possible causes for an irregular heartbeat can vary but here are some of the most common reasons.
- Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- An imbalance of electrolytes
- Anemia
- Poor reaction to drugs
- Birth defects
- Low magnesium levels
- Taurine deficiency
- Low blood oxygen content
- Heart cancer
- Heart disease
- Pancreatitis
- Heartworm infection
- Fever
- Hypothermia
- Ingestion of toxins
Treating a Cat's Heart Arrhythmia
Most cats will be treated on an outpatient basis. Patients with an electrolyte imbalance will be hospitalized to receive intravenous fluid therapy. If an underlying cause of the arrhythmia is found, such as kidney disease or hyperthyroidism, then treating the underlying disease will resolve the irregular rhythm.
Many medications can help control cardiac arrhythmia, some of which have side effects. In more serious cases, surgery may be needed to resolve the condition. The most common procedure is the installation of a pacemaker for long-term and better control of the arrhythmia.
If you have noticed signs of an irregular heartbeat or other heart condition in your cat, schedule an exam with your veterinarian. Depending on the results of the checkup and any diagnostic tests, our vets at Creature Comforts Veterinary Hospital can develop a treatment plan or refer you to a veterinary cardiologist for additional testing and treatment.