What is congestive heart failure (CHF)?
A cat is said to be in congestive heart failure (CHF) when pulmonary edema or pleural effusion is present. It occurs when the heart is no longer able to meet the demands for pumping blood around the body. Blood backs up into the lungs, leading to fluid leaking into the lung tissue (pulmonary edema) or around the lungs (pleural effusion). This prevents the lungs from functioning normally, leading to breathlessness and lethargy. An X-ray provides the most readily available means to identify pulmonary edema. The treatment for heart failure tends to be independent of the form of cardiomyopathy present. Cats with acute heart failure tend to present in severe respiratory distress and can easily become critical without proper care. Initial management focuses on managing the dyspnea or respiratory distress. The dyspnea can be from pleural effusion, pulmonary edema or a combination of the two. Less commonly, congestive heart failure can lead to pericardial effusion, which is excess fluid within
