Simple Blood Test Detects Heart Disease in Cats

The most common type of heart disease in cats is cardiomyopathy, which rarely produces clinical signs.

Surprisingly, 15 percent of ostensibly healthy cats have cardiomyopathy. So getting your cat's blood tested can potentially save its life. megaflopp/Shutterstock

Q: Rambo, my 2-year-old cat, was breathing fast during his annual wellness exam. His veterinarian said his rapid breathing could be due to stress, heart disease, or a respiratory condition such as asthma.

She did a blood test called NT-proBNP, which indicated that he may have heart disease, and she referred me to a cardiologist who confirmed that Rambo has cardiomyopathy. Now he takes medicine to improve his heart function and prolong his life.