Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with vomiting and weakness diagnosed with heart pre-excitation
By Murphy, L A & Nakamura, R K·Published in Journal of veterinary cardiology : the official journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology·2025·University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Pre-excitation alternans in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 9-year-old male neutered domestic Shorthair cat was brought to the vet after suddenly vomiting, panting, and showing weakness. An electrocardiogram (ECG) indicated a fast heart rate, leading to a referral for more tests. An echocardiogram showed that the cat had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart muscle becomes thickened. The ECG also revealed a unique pattern called pre-excitation alternans, which is unusual in cats. This case highlights a rare heart issue, and the cat will need ongoing monitoring and possibly treatment for its heart condition.
People also search for: cat vomiting and panting · cat heart disease symptoms · hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats
Abstract
A nine-year-old male neutered domestic Shorthair cat presented on referral for evaluation. The cat presented to its primary veterinarian for acute onset vomiting, panting, and weakness. An electrocardiogram performed at the regular veterinarian was concerning for ventricular tachycardia, and the cat was referred for further evaluation. An echocardiogram revealed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and a review of the electrocardiogram revealed findings suggestive of ventricular pre-excitation alternans with the suspect pre-excited complexes appearing to alternate with sinus complexes. This is the first reported case of pre-excitation alternans in a cat.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39742716/