Disorder - Heart defect, congenital

Organ Systems Involved
Cardiovascular

Alternative disorders described within LIDA

Atrioventricular valve dysplasia; Ventricular and atrial septal defects; Endocardial fibroelastosis; Subaortic stenosis; Patent ductus arteriosus; Tetralogy of Fallot; Pulmonary stenosis

Presenting Signs

Congenital heart defects are many and varied. They can refer to the malformation of the walls dividing the chambers of the heart, or the narrowing of passages within the heart, or the shunting or re-diverting of blood from its intended route within the body. Presenting signs are varied depending on the specific congenital defect but include: weight loss, decreased appetite, difficulty breathing, pot belly and heart murmurs.

Congenital heart defects account for 11.8 per cent of heart abnormalities, with ventricular septal defect being the most common of these.

Cats at Risk

Male cats have a higher prevalence of congenital heart defects then Female. The incidence is higher in purebred animals then those of mixed breeding.

Breeds Affected
Burmese
Siamese


Treatment

Congenital heart defects can be treated with either surgery or medical treatments. Surgical treatments include surgical ligation of vessels, placement of shunts and reconstructive surgery. Often surgical treatment isn’t an option due to either the risks involved or financial limitations, in which case many heart defects can be managed via medical treatments.

PubMed References
Heart defect, congenital

Contributor
Nicholas Wonders