5 Things You Need to Know About HCM and Sphynx Cats!
5 Things You Need to Know About HCM and Sphynx Cats!
If you have a Sphynx cat you need to be educated on HCM. HCM stands for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and is a condition that affects the heart. One of the best ways to ensure you adopt a healthy cat off the bat is to do your research and only adopt from reputable sources. There are so many unscrupulous breeders out there who are not screening their breeding cats properly. Here is a map of all our approved breeders to start you off on the right foot.
However, if your kitty already has HCM, here are the top 5 things you need to know:
1. HCM is more common in certain breeds of cats including Sphynx, Maine Coon, and Ragdoll cats.
2. Early detection is key with this disease. Becoming aware of this disease early on can help to improve the longevity of your cat and ensure that they have a good, healthy life despite the disease. Proper early detection and treatment can help them to live relatively symptom-free.
3. There are 2 different ways to diagnose HCM. The first is the most diagnostic, has the best results, and is a dedicated scan that detects HCM (like an ultrasound or echocardiogram of your cat’s heart). The second way is a simple blood test that can be done at your vet’s office. It is called an NT Pro BNP test which tests for different markers of heart damage in your pet’s blood.
4. Most cardiology specialists today recommend keeping your cat on a rotating schedule doing the scan one year followed up by the blood test the following year. It is so important to keep up with this schedule in order to detect any abnormalities as soon as possible.
5. The last thing to remember is that while an HCM diagnosis certainly is scary, with early detection and proper treatment with today’s medications and amazing health supplements, your cat can live a long and healthy life despite the condition.
One of the best health supplements you can give to your Sphynx to support their heart health is the RenewedPet Heart Health Kit - the 3 supplements in this kit are essential to any Sphynx living with a heart condition.
