Kitten mildly enlarged heart on xray? Normal?

[sphynxmom4]

Hi all - my kitten is 5 months old and had a chest xray due to brachial irritation and the radiologist also noted “mildly enlarged heart” can this be a normal finding or a predecessor to heart disease? His parents and grandparents are all hcm negative and dna tested.

 

[di and bob]

It could be due to the infection, so don't overly worry right now, but I would re xray him when he is cleared up and after a few months. that is NOT normal in a kitten they are usually older. I have had cats live for 10 more years with an enlarged heart, and they died at a normal old age for cats, so it can be managed. They were on lasix for years, and off and on again Prednisolone. 'Mildly' is encouraging too.

 

[sphynxmom4]

di and bob ok that is reassuring! Thank you so much for your insight.

 

[F+V]

An echocardiogram is better suited to check the heart than X-rays. My cats are 6 now, and I wish I had asked for echo when they were kittens, so I would've had a baseline to compare to.

 

[di and bob]

I know that’s true, but an xray is MUCH cheaper. I can’t afford something so expensive unless it’s absolutely necessary.