When Lily and her sister were found at a car wash in Larnaca recently, she looked like a healthy playful kitten, albeit underweight. She seemed to be doing well but 10 days ago she was found close to collapse and struggling to breathe. We have a video of her struggling to breathe but haven't posted it, because we considered it too distressing. Lily was immediately rushed to a vet who discovered a serious heart murmur. An xray showed that she had a greatly enlarged heart. She was referred for an ultrasound with a cardiologist. Meanwhile medication and antibiotics were prescribed.
The cardiologist discovered a massive hole in Lily's heart. He said he thought it was possibly the largest he had ever seen (report in the photos). She has a ventricular septum defect ( hole in the heart). The hole is located between her two atrium (the two top parts of her heart). She has thickening of her right heart muscles. He was unsure if she has stenosis of the pulmonary valve . The cardiologist said she went into acute heart failure and that was why she had been struggling to breathe. Without any medication she would continue to go in and out of acute heart fallure... Without any treatment she would probably get end up in full blown heart failure....He said to try with medication and see if it helped her, but only time would tell. The hole is inoperable in Cyprus and she could not be flown to a location where the hole could be repaired. She is currently receiving Frusemide, Fortekor, Synulox and Baytril.
On the cardiologist's advice, our plan is to give her a chance and see if medication improves her situation. We are asking for help to pay for her emergency treatment (Xray, scan and heart medication) and required medication until her next consultation with the cardiologist.
