Feline cardiomyopathies: what can we do?

Dukes McEwan, Jo ORCID: 0000-0002-0326-8251 (2025) Feline cardiomyopathies: what can we do? In: 2nd Middle Eastern & African Veterinary Congress, 2025-10-17 - 2025-10-19, Jafza One convention centre, Dubai, UAE.

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Abstract

Introduction: Feline cardiomyopathy, especially hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is very common, affecting about 15% of all cats with prevalence increasing with age. The consequences of cardiomyopathies can include congestive heart failure (CHF), thromboembolism or sudden death. Treatment of cardiomyopathy is focused towards treating or trying to prevent these consequences. However, many cats with HCM have asymptomatic disease which may be identified by the presence of a heart murmur, or during screening. Currently, no treatment has been shown to affect long term outcome in these cats. Objectives: To review the feline cardiomyopathies, with focus on HCM, and how to stage disease and treat affected cats. Recent publications have come up with new insights on how preclinical HCM may be managed, and these will be shared as options for the future. Methods: Treatment of clinical cardiomyopathies address management of CHF, but with little evidence base behind this. There is more evidence about reducing risk for thromboembolism. For the asymptomatic HCM cat, there is little evidence that conventional medication will influence progression. However, a recent study has shown that nutritional management may result in improvement over 12 months. Rapamycin (Sirolimus, recently FDA approved) has been shown to reduce progression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) over 6 months. Small molecule inhibitors of cardiac myosin such as aficamten or mavacamten reduce the severity of dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and contribution to LVH. Conclusions: Feline cardiomyopathies are common and new methods of managing preclinical disease to slow progression are needed. Presentation type: Masterclass

Item Type:	Conference Item (Unspecified)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, HCM, Preclinical HCM, Congestive heart failure, Thromboembolism.
Divisions:	Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Infection, Vet & Ecological Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Infection, Vet & Ecological Sciences > Small Animal Clinical Science
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	21 Nov 2025 08:38
Last Modified:	21 Nov 2025 08:38
Related Websites:	Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3195534
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