Sinus arrhythmia A homogeneous cat’s heart rhythm is fast and slow
The effects of a cat’s arrhythmia, you need to know! Cats, like humans, have only one very regular normal heart rhythm . When the heart rhythm is very regular, the time interval between each heart beat is the same, and the impulse signal is usually located in the sinus node of the heart, so it is called sinus rhythm. Heart rate increases during exercise and slows at rest, but there is little difference in the time interval between each beat.
Arrhythmia refers to an irregular heart rhythm. A cat with sinus arrhythmia has a fast and slow heart rhythm. Compared to normal sinus rhythm, the time interval between each heartbeat is different.
I. Etiology
The cat can cause elevated vagal tone similar to that of the dog, but vagal excitation rarely causes sinus arrhythmia in cats. Sinus arrhythmia in cats usually indicates a primary cardiac problem.
II. Clinical symptoms
Sinus arrhythmia in cats can present with clinical symptoms related to heart disease. Affected cats may be quieter than usual and reluctant to move. Breathing may be faster and harder than usual. Some cats with heart disease may also cough.
Three. Diagnosis
The only test that can differentiate sinus arrhythmia from other types of arrhythmia is an electrocardiogram (ECG). If sinus arrhythmia is found on ECG, the need for/without further testing depends on the patient’s clinical symptoms, and possible tests include laboratory tests, chest/abdominal radiographs, and echocardiography (in cats).
Four. Treatment
Sinus arrhythmia in cats is usually not recommended for treatment, but heart disease should be treated.
If the patient has a very severe arrhythmia, ECG monitoring for sinus arrhythmia may be required. Regular ECG monitoring is the only way to be sure that no other pathological rhythm is present. Follow-up visits, monitoring, and examinations depend on the underlying cause of sinus arrhythmia.
Medication options for heart disease:
1. Enalapril
Also known as ACE inhibitors, its function is to dilate blood vessels and adjust the hormones that cause heart failure. Active, and can effectively reduce the resistance of the heart to output blood flow. Such drugs have been successfully proven in many studies to prolong the life of heart failure patients. The side effects of the drugs include vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, increased blood potassium levels or decreased kidney function.
2. Furosemide
It is a kind of diuretic, which can accelerate the elimination of excess tissue fluid and body fluid in patients with heart failure. The dosage will vary according to the patient’s drug suitability and clinical response; Dosage is necessary to control use in chronically ill patients. This drug is used in the symptoms of pulmonary edema and cough due to heart failure, and the response is usually good. Drug side effects include excess tissue fluid, loss of body fluids and electrolytes, especially potassium ions, which can eventually lead to dehydration or weakness in the patient.
Dietary Management of Feline Heart Disease
1. Control sodium intake for each disease stage.
2. Be wary of loss of appetite. Maintain an appropriate weight.
3. Foods should have high palatability, high energy density and high protein.
4. Nutrients necessary to maintain heart health: EPA, DHA, L-arginine, antioxidants, vitamins B complex, magnesium, aminoethanesulfonic acid, L-carnitine.
The prognosis for sinus arrhythmia in cats depends on the type and severity of primary cardiac disease. For feline heart disease, early detection and treatment and dietary management can delay the development of the disease and improve the status of life. Cats should be checked at least once a year, and elderly cats can be increased to twice a year, which can detect some chronic diseases early, so that scientific management can delay aging. Don’t think “this is a normal geriatric disease” and consult a veterinarian if there is a change in symptoms of concern.
