When it comes to pain and illness, cats are very good at hiding it. When they are weak, in pain, or sick, they try painstakingly not to let you know. This is primarily true when it comes to heart ailments in cats. Heart disease can’t be stopped, but there are other things you can do to make sure your pet’s heart stays as healthy as possible. Here are things you can do to keep your cat’s heart in the best shape possible.
Routine Checkups
Going to the vet is crucial to fighting degenerative heart disease. At least once a year, you should take your cat friend to the vet for a check-up. The veterinarian will listen to the heart of your pet with a stethoscope. A skilled veterinarian in Matthews, NC, will have the knowledge and tools to determine whether your cat has a heart condition.
Blood Test
Luckily, veterinary medicine has developed a blood test that can tell if a cat is likely to have heart problems. A proBNP test measures how much peptide hormone is in the body. Peptide hormones are protein hormones that are made by the heart. If a peptide is found, the vet cardiologist knows that the heart is being worked too hard. If nothing is done right away to ease these symptoms, the peptide level will continue to rise.
Exercise and Diet
Your cat’s heart health and the prevention of serious heart problems that could lead to veterinary surgery depend on what he or she eats. High-protein, low-sodium cat food is good for your cat’s heart because it prevents fluid buildup and helps the heart beat more efficiently. Also, older cats may find it harder to gain or lose weight, so they change their diets to account for this.
Exercise is also important for heart health, but it may be more challenging for you to exercise if you have a cat. When cats have problems with their hearts, they can’t move around. And, unlike dogs, who are almost always exercised, it may be hard to tell when your cat doesn’t want to move around. Every day, spending a few minutes chasing a toy or climbing on a scratching post will go a long way toward keeping your cat’s heart healthy.
Adequate Rest
Check to see if your older cat is getting a good night’s sleep and is comfortable in bed. Make sure he has a quiet place to rest, soft blankets, and easy access to food and water. Also, if you have an older cat, you might want to buy an orthopedic bed with heat and/or massage vibrations to help ease pain and improve circulation.
Cat Supplements
Cat vitamins could be one of the best practices to keep your cat’s heart healthy. Protein, essential amino acids, fatty acids, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron, copper, cobalt, zinc, sulfur, sodium, selenium, nitrogen, and other things are included. Protein, amino acids, fatty acids, and selenium are especially important for protecting our blood cells, heart, liver, and lungs and making our immune system respond to infections with more antibodies.
Conclusion
Because their ancestors were wild, cats are afraid to show weakness because they might get eaten. This could be hard for cat owners, especially if the cat is scared of new people. To find out if your cat has heart disease, look at it. A vet can check your cat’s heartbeat and the fluid in its lungs for anything unusual. If your vet thinks your pet has heart disease, he or she will likely suggest that you see a veterinary cardiologist. A cardiologist certified by a board can do more advanced diagnostic tests to determine if there are heart disease signs.
