MF-boy
Savannah Child
...Just lost Marcus, my 7-year old F4 Savannah...
He was suddenly diagnosed with advanced HCM and CHF less than 2.5 months ago when rushed to the ER after showing signs of difficulty breathing... But then seemed to be doing well after staying in ER and being put on meds. ...suddenly progressed this morning from totally normal "good morning Mom" to respiratory distress which extra doses of furosemide didn't relieve this time...
Savannahs seem to be a very healthy breed, and before getting him I interviewed many breeders. The one I got him from was very health-conscious, told me that she did not have problems with her breeding, there was a health guarantee, and he never showed any signs of any problem. Except that he always was constipated, and in retrospect I am thinking that this could have been a sign which was never connected by my vet with HCM -- but now I know these often develop together.
As a cat parent, there is not much we can do even if the cat is diagnosed early except slowing down the disease, but it is incurable and progressive. But I wonder what the breeders can do because after several generations of other domestic cats' breeding, the same genes that cause it in other breeds can start to show...
He was suddenly diagnosed with advanced HCM and CHF less than 2.5 months ago when rushed to the ER after showing signs of difficulty breathing... But then seemed to be doing well after staying in ER and being put on meds. ...suddenly progressed this morning from totally normal "good morning Mom" to respiratory distress which extra doses of furosemide didn't relieve this time...
Savannahs seem to be a very healthy breed, and before getting him I interviewed many breeders. The one I got him from was very health-conscious, told me that she did not have problems with her breeding, there was a health guarantee, and he never showed any signs of any problem. Except that he always was constipated, and in retrospect I am thinking that this could have been a sign which was never connected by my vet with HCM -- but now I know these often develop together.
As a cat parent, there is not much we can do even if the cat is diagnosed early except slowing down the disease, but it is incurable and progressive. But I wonder what the breeders can do because after several generations of other domestic cats' breeding, the same genes that cause it in other breeds can start to show...
