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

Question

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

Christie Long, DVM · Accepted Answer

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.

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

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