Page 7 - Feline Cardiology

Preface

Cats are the most popular house pet in the United States, All of these observations pointed to a need for more
numbering some 88.3 million (contrasting with 74.8 information, which we chose to address by creating this
million dogs) (HSUS 2010). Surveys suggest propor- book. Our primary goal has been to collect and present
tionally similar domestic feline populations in many clinically relevant and applicable approaches to the eval-
other countries (Murray et al. 2010; Chambre Syndicale uation and treatment of feline heart disease. Above all,
2006; EPFIF 2010). Even so, a textbook dedicated to the book is meant to be useful in clinical practice. Within
heart diseases of the cat has not existed until now. By this approach, we have also included advanced or state-
contrast, the first textbook on cardiology of the dog was of-the-art material as appropriate.
published over 40 years ago (Ettinger and Suter 1970). We have aimed to describe and explain the intricacies
Therefore, much of the information on heart diseases of and nuances of feline heart disease, and the uniqueness
cats in current reference texts is presented in combina- of feline heart disease, as we see them. Like so many
tion with information on heart diseases of dogs. Such branches of veterinary medicine, feline cardiology
an approach provides a framework but is insufficient, suffers from having few formally accepted guidelines to
especially in practices where cats make up a substantial direct the practice and application of the discipline. This
proportion of the caseload. Cats develop and manifest book represents our collective effort at identifying and
cardiac disease uniquely, in ways that often do not lend providing the published information that does exist,
themselves to comparisons or extrapolations from other interwoven with our own experience, opinions, and
species. practice approaches when peer-reviewed data were
Our ability to recognize feline heart disease continues lacking.
to increase, and as a result, some studies suggest that the Several features of this book demonstrate the way in
prevalence of heart disease in cats rivals or surpasses the which we have sought to reach these goals, including
prevalence of heart disease in humans (Paige et al. 2009).
This awareness presents both opportunity and dilemma. • Emphasis on clinically relevant aspects of naturally
What are the appropriate tests to diagnose heart disease occurring heart disease in the cat. The cardiomyopa-
in cats, and how can private practitioners best use them thies, aortic thromboembolism, heart murmurs, con-
in daily practice? “Does every cat with a murmur need gestive heart failure, and other cornerstones of feline
an echocardiogram?” Can some confounding factors cardiovascular disease are explored in detail. The larg-
influence the diagnosis of heart disease (Campbell and est part of the book describes individual cardiovascu-
Kittleson 2007)? Should a cat be treated if structural lar diseases as they occur in the veterinary setting. The
changes of the heart are only discovered as an incidental length of chapters deliberately reflects the importance
finding? Is the prognosis guarded even if his/her cardiac of individual diseases, so that reader-practitioners
disorder is stable for years? How should comorbidities may find the most information on the diseases they
be addressed in cats with underlying cardiac disease? encounter most often.
Answers exist for some of these questions but not others; • Organization in a predictable and user-friendly for-
what is undeniable is the emergence of these questions mat. Chapters begin with key points to summarize
in daily feline practice. Despite insufficient published the most important elements of each chapter and then
information, dedicated cat owners expect veterinarians proceed through the natural sequence of information,
to diagnose and treat cats that have heart disease with a typically: introduction, pathophysiology, signalment,
high level of proficiency and care. history, physical exam, and so on.
As veterinarians, we are faced daily with the spectrum • Anticipation and recognition of the realities of vet-
of feline heart disease. The severity of our feline patients’ erinary practice. For example, Chapter 27 on general
problems ranges from the very mild to life-threatening anesthesia contains sections on “Anesthetizing the
and devastating situations. A multiauthor consensus for Fractious Cat” and “Planning Anesthesia in the Car-
providing optimal diagnosis and treatment in an attempt diac Patient without an Echocardiogram”; Chapter
to attain the best overall outcome seemed useful but was 29 summarizes treatment recommendations for the
lacking in existing texts. most common feline heart diseases in a streamlined

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