Heart Disease Awareness Day - Queenies Pawprints

Today, as I write this, marks four years since we lost our precious boy, my beautiful Distinguished Gentleman, my Little Biggie, Ashy. For the past four years, I haven’t really been able to talk about it much, but I feel compelled to spread the word to raise awareness and, hopefully, save a life.

Ashy, like all our other cats, was a rescue. He was FIV positive and had a few issues here and there, but nothing we thought too concerning—until that day four years ago. We took him to the vet for what should have been a routine and relatively safe procedure under general anesthesia. I still remember the unsettling feeling in my gut when we dropped him off, the vet reassuring us, “Don’t worry, he will be fine!” I remember him looking at me for the last time as they took him inside… Then, overwhelmed by a nagging feeling, I called the vet and asked, “How is he?” to which she replied, “He is not good, I’m afraid. His heart is failing. We are breathing for him.” I remember jumping in the car and driving as fast as I could. Then another phone call: He was gone.

Ashy passed away under general anesthesia from an undiagnosed and undetected heart disease called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), quite common in cats yet manageable if detected early. Unfortunately, especially in cats, this condition often doesn’t show symptoms until it’s too late. Ashy had no heart murmur, no cough, no changes in regular blood tests that would indicate something was wrong. We missed it. I didn’t know better then, but I do now: a simple heart ultrasound prior to the procedure could have saved him. It might not have saved him from this disease, but it could have prevented his death that day four years ago.

Why am I writing this today? Because I want to raise awareness about this silent killer. I believe pet parents should be given a choice. Ideally, I would like to see a heart ultrasound become an optional part of a standard pre-anesthetic protocol, just like a blood test. Yes, some owners might refuse due to the cost, but many would not. Plus, more and more pet parents these days have pet insurance which could cover the cost. Regardless, it should be a choice that we are aware of. If only I had been given this option back then, maybe my boy would still be alive.

I am not blaming anyone; the vet didn’t know either, and losing a patient like this is undoubtedly traumatic. And yes, it is still incredibly difficult for me to talk about this. But if sharing this story can prevent even one fur family from enduring the trauma and years of anxiety, pain, guilt, and “what if” questions that I have gone through, then telling Ashy’s story is worth it.

I love you forever, my Ashy-Meowashy. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about you.

Until we meet again.