Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

Is my Persian kitten's 10.5 VHS heart measurement enlarged?

Updated on September 23, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Persian | Female | unspayed | 7 months and 12 days old | 5.84 lbs

Hi I have a Persian kitten who is 7 months old. I took a thoracic radiograph and the dimensions of the heart are are as follows: VHS= 6.5 (L/V) + 4.0 (S/V) = 10.5 V. Is this an enlarged heart and is it a cause for worry ?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Christie Long, DVM

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on March 26, 2017

If Phoebe's VHS is truly 10.5, then her heart may be enlarged; however I would want to be sure that you took the radiograph correctly and had assistance measuring the long and short axes of the heart, since this is typically done by veterinarians or veterinary radiologists. Typically, a VHS of greater than 10 is considered abnormal in cats, however many people feel that the short axis measurement is more predictive of heart disease, and typically anything within the range of 2.9 - 4.1 is considered "normal." However, I will add that many veterinary radiologists are questioning the value of the VHS in predicting heart disease. Phoebe's overall measurement is considered abnormal, so likely the best recommendation is to have an echocardiogram done in order to accurate assess heart function, and predict whether she will develop problems in the future.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Health & Wellness

Is my dog's high VHS score from anxiety? Is it dangerous?

Hello, and thanks for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. VHS or Vertebral Heart Score is a measure of the size of the heart, and would not be related to the dog's respiratory rate or level of anxiety. Normal VHS usually ranges from 8.5-10.5, so Angel's VHS is a bit high. There are a number of things that could cause a heart to become larger than normal, so to have more information about what might be causing the increased size of Angel's heart, an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) should be performed. Your primary vet should be able to help guide you to a specialty vet clinic that would be able to perform an echo. Hope this helps, and good luck to you and Angel.

Updated on September 23, 2025

My new cat has an enlarged heart and murmur. How can I help him?

Congrats on your new pet! Adoption is a wonderful thing. When Winston sees your veterinarian, discuss diagnostics to confirm and establish a baseline for his condition. Common tests may include chest x-rays to assess cardiac size and an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) to assess cardiac architecture and function. The echo, more than any other diagnostic, will determine if he will need medication to manage his condition. You can read more about cardiac conditions at this link: http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/Health_Information/HeartDisease.cfm

Updated on September 23, 2025

Why does my old cat's heart beat hard and she shakes while resting?

In senior cats, cardiac problems can be very common and there are also diseases such as hyperthyroidism that causes increased heart rate. I would have Kitty seen by a vet for a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis. X-rays would also be advisable to check on her heart shape and size. The geriatric blood panel will indicate if she is suffering from hyperthyroidism, which can be treated.

Updated on September 23, 2025

How long can a young cat with HCM or heart disease expect to live?

Unfortunately hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats can cause them to have a shorter life span. They because more at risk of high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and thromboembolism. I'm glad you were able to seek the help of a cardiologist for Smudge because atenolol and ace inhibitors can help increase a kitty with HCM life expectancy. You may be able to get the ace inhibitors compounded into a liquid to make giving it easier. Or try a pill pocket or other treat to get Smudge to take the medication. One thing you can do at home to monitor Smudge for signs of trouble is keeping track of his resting respiratory rate. Count his breaths per minute when he is in a deep sleep. Anything above 30 breaths per minute would be considered abnormal and means he should see a veterinarian.

Updated on September 23, 2025

Health & Wellness

Why does my Sphinx cat have a throbbing heart, vomiting, and diarrhea?

Just based on your description I would say you should have Samson examined by your vet. Sphinx cats have a genetic predisposition to heart disease, namely hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This disease can cause heart murmurs and arrhythmias which are often the first clinical signs. Your vet needs to listen to the heart with a stethoscope and possibly do an EKG test. That is where I would start. I do not think the vomiting and diarrhea are heart related so he may have two separate issues going on concurrently.

Updated on September 23, 2025

When should my Sphynx cat be scanned for HCM, how often, and cost?

HCM can occur at any age but is more common in adult cats. An echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) can be done at 2-3 years of age. If the echo is clear, recheck every other year until 8-9 years of age. Yearly echocardiograms should be done at this point. If symptoms (lethargy, difficulty breathing, coughing, murmur, arrythmias, sudden paralysis) develop sooner, have your cat examined by your veterinarian or a veterinary cardiologist every 6 months or yearly beginning at an earlier age.

Updated on September 23, 2025

My kitten is panting fast. Can a congenital heart defect be cured?

Hello and thank you for another question. The heart scan detected a hole between the ventricles, which is causing the blood from the two ventricles to mix. This is a condition Fuji was born with. Fortunately, there are no signs of heart failure on the scan, which means that the heart is coping well at the moment. Complete cure means closing the defect with surgery. It is possible in human medicine, I doubt it is a viable option for cats, maybe it is available at some universities in USA. In my opinion, the best way to go would be doing another heart scan when Fuji is about 12-14 months old. That will show if the disease is progressing or not and a decision about treatment can be made then. For now, I don't think there is any treatment that would make any significant difference for Fuji.

Updated on September 23, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share