Bunny has HCM

We got Bunny’s report back from the cardiologist today, and it said that her x-rays and echocardiogram are “most consistent with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy”.  In fact, the x-rays from the day we took her in to the vet (the day she was having trouble breathing) show that she was actually in the middle of heart failure.  Thank goodness we didn’t wait any longer to take her in—Flippy’s instincts said not to wait, and I’m glad we listened to them.  Right now, we don’t know if she has a month to live, or years to live.  She started on Lasix and Enalapril today, and she’s got a full schedule of rechecks ahead of her—kidney values in one week, x-rays in one month, and another ECG in three months.  Hopefully the tests will show improvement.  Enalapril is an ACE inhibitor, but there’s a beta-blocker called Carvedilol which has been showing good results in clinical trials on cats with CHF.  I think Bunny could take both drugs concurrently, so this is definitely something I want to pursue.  It’s unfortunate that we don’t actually have a relationship with the cardiologiy service—they just consult with our vet, so we never get a chance to speak to them.

This coming Monday, we’ll be taking Carlo in for the same tests, because this condition is genetic.  It’s also more common in males.  I really hope he’s not affected, just because it would be such a huge emotional burden to know that they were both living on borrowed time.

When I returned the vet’s phone call today, it was literally right at sundown… I noticed it getting darker outside as I waited on hold.  I don’t think I’ll ever go through another Hanukkah season without thinking about this particular day.  Although I’d been just beside myself with emotion when the idea of HCM was first posed last week, I’d actually convinced myself that Bunny didn’t have it because she’s had such a good week.  When I got the positive diagnosis today I was really shocked… I thought bad news just happened to other people.

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 12/05 at 01:26 AM

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  1. So sorry to hear of Bunny’s diagnosis.  We’re sending lots of good vibes from California ...

    Posted by Charlotte  on  12/05  at  03:27 AM

  2. We are very sorry to hear about Bunny. Pixie at http://daisythecurlycat.blogspot.com/ has had HCM for something like 6 years, so with treatment there is hope. We are purring for Bunny and Carlo.

    Posted by Riley & Tiki  on  12/05  at  09:24 AM

  3. In spite of her diagnosis, Bunny is a lucky kitty to have you and Flippy. There has been and will be so much love and happiness in her life for as long as she lives. Sending good vibes that she hangs in there to enjoy it!

    Posted by Isabel Wang  on  12/05  at  09:44 AM

  4. I’m so very sorry!  There’s nothing I can write that will make this better, so tons of hugs from Atlanta!

    Posted by Helly  on  12/05  at  04:14 PM

  5. What Isabel said is bang-on. Bunny is very fortunate to have you and Flippy as her caregivers.

    Posted by Calamity Jen  on  12/05  at  10:40 PM

  6. Hugs from all of us over here.

    Posted by Helena  on  12/05  at  11:14 PM

  7. Oh my God! Poor Bunny! Poor you! Oh, Leigh-Ann, I wish there was something I could do! I thought of Pixie, Daisy’s sister, as soon as I read the name of the condition.

    When Scruffy’s tumors started to show, part of me knew she wouldn’t be with us long. And I tried to deny it - it’s just the way she’s sitting, she’s twisting, it’s the light. She was too happy and loving to be dieing. And we couldn’t afford extensive treatment, not with a new baby. She was 12, but we only had her 2 years.

    However long Bunny has, know that she loves you and is the happiest she could be. ***hugs***

    Posted by Victor Tabbycat's Mom  on  12/07  at  01:30 AM

  8. Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.  I hope the treatments work well and Bunny is strong enough to stay happy with you for a long long time.
    We are all living on borrowed time.  It’s just harder when you have an idea of how long that could be and what the causes are.  At least you know that something is wrong, what that something is, and what to do about it now and what to look out for. 
    Hope Carlo gets through his tests in the clear.
    And I hope you can enjoy the holiday season.

    Posted by Ryssee  on  12/07  at  09:25 AM

  9. I am very sorry to learn the news about Bunny. My big sister, Pixie, has HCM.  I am going to send you an e-mail because I wanted to say more than I can type here.

    Posted by Daisy the Curly Cat  on  12/07  at  05:42 PM

  10. I’m so sorry, so, so sorry.

    Interesting that it’s treated the same in felines as humans, although not really surprising.

    In humans, carvedilol and enalapril are all taken together along with lasix and whatever else is needed.

    I hope the pet carvedilol is much cheaper than the human. Hooooo Boy, I hope it is so.

    Posted by Diana  on  12/07  at  07:23 PM

  11. I haven’t known what to say about this except ‘damn! :(’  Over the years I’ve had feline diagnoses that were devastating, but there wasn’t one case where the reality was as awful as the bleakness I felt when the diagnosis was given.  I had many more years with each of a few animals who had conditions that you would suppose would have caused almost immediate demise. 

    In your care Bunny has a greater advantage than any animal I could imagine.  However long her time turns out to be, she’ll be cared for and thrive more than she likely would in any other household.  It doesn’t quell the grief of pending loss, but it could very well be the best reason for her to have been with you.  And the ‘pending’ could be years. 

    I’m glad you found out so treatment could commence, but I’m so sorry for such a harsh blow.  I’ll keep my fingers crossed for Bunny, and Carlo too.

    Print

    Posted by Print  on  12/10  at  12:49 AM

  12. Thank you for all the kind words of support… they really do mean a lot, and make me feel better.  I appreciate them all :)

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  12/12  at  05:57 AM

  13. Diana, Carvedilol for pets would be the same med that’s given to humans.  In fact, if it’s prescribed for Bunny, we’d probably be given a written prescription to fill at Walgreens.  If the dose is weight-related, maybe it won’t be so awful.  She barely weighs 7 pounds, so her daily intake would be a lot less than someone who weighs thirty-times her weight.  We won’t be seeing the vet about it until Sunday, but I’ll report back about the cost if she’s allowed to take it.

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  12/12  at  06:13 AM
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