Quiz: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Cats
Amara H. Estrada, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology), University of Florida
Eduardo J. Benjamin, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Cardiology), University of Florida
The author and Clinician’s Brief editorial team acknowledge the prior contribution of Matthew Boothe, DVM.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common type of heart disease in cats, affecting ≈1 in 7 cats.1 A high proportion of cats with HCM are subclinical; however, ≈30% of cats develop congestive heart failure, thromboembolic disease, or both.2,3 Arrhythmias may also develop, possibly leading to transient loss of consciousness and/or sudden cardiac death.
The following questions highlight key take-home points regarding this common disease in cats.
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The Case: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in a Cat
Discover how early detection and targeted therapy helped manage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and mitigate thromboembolic risk in a feline patient presented for lameness and a new murmur in this case presentation article.
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Talking to Clients Without Pressuring
Successful interactions with clients are based on trust and knowledge that both the veterinary team and the client have the pet’s best interest in mind. Communicating with clients as partners means using skills that foster relationship-centered care. In a vaccine conversation, these skills can include:
Empathy: “I know there is a lot of information out there and it can feel overwhelming.”
Reflective listening: “It sounds like you're wondering about the values of diagnostic testing since Bagheera is currently acting fine.”
Partnership: “Our team and I know you only want Bagheera to be happy and healthy, and that’s always our goal also.”
Asking permission: “Would it be okay if I gave you some more information about heart disease in cats and why we’re recommending additional testing for Bagheera?”
For more information on talking to clients as partners, see this article on Persuading the Client Without Any Pressure.