A few days of inactivity and poor appetite occur first. Just prior to the state of heart failure and death, the cat may become very inactive and exhibit labored breathing. Return to menu. The heart will have an abnormal shape and fluid may be detected in or around the lungs. If a large amount of fluid is present around the lungs, it may be necessary to remove it and take more radiographs because the presence of this fluid interferes with evaluation of the heart.
Many cases also require better visualization of the heart with an echocardiogram, or sonogram.
This is a non-invasive method of looking at the heart while it is pumping. Sound waves are used to make this dynamic study of the heart. Radiographs can tell us about the size and shape of the heart but nothing about heart function. Ultrasound can provide this information. This simple blood test can help identify an overactive thyroid gland as the underlying cause of the heart disease.