Disorder - Dilated cardiomyopathy

Organ Systems Involved
Cardiovascular

Alternative disorders described within LIDA

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, unclassified cardiomyopathy

Alternative Names
DCM, idiopathic myocardial failure, congestive cardiomyopathy

Presenting Signs

DCM causes the heart muscles to have difficulty in contracting and pumping blood around the body. The heart is composed of four chambers that collect and pump blood in sequence. With DCM all four chambers of the heart can become enlarged, particularly the left ventricle, and the heart muscle becomes thin and weak. This means that the heart can no longer work as an effective pump. This leads to decreased cardiac output, that is, less blood is pumped around the body. Symptoms may be vague and relate to low cardiac output or congestive heart failure. Symptoms may also be due to the formation of clots caused by the reduced output. Signs related to low cardiac output include lack of appetite and weakness; signs related to congestive heart failure include dyspnoea (difficulty breathing) and tachypnoea (rapid breathing), low blood pressure and fluid in the abdomen; and signs related to clots include the hindlimbs suddenly becoming painful and paralysed. Affected cats commonly show increased effort in breathing (caused by fluid collecting in the lungs), dehydration, low temperature and depression.

Cats at Risk

Increased incidence reported in Siamese, Abyssinian and Burmese. Familial patterns have been identified in some breeds. A deficiency in taurine (necessary in the diet) makes cats more susceptible.

Treatment

Medical. Goals of treatment are to increase cardiac output and improve lung function. Medications to increase the strength of the heartbeats and to help the heart to work can be given.

PubMed References
Dilated cardiomyopathy

Contributor
Naomi Singleton