Lucy is a 7-month-old kitten with a very special heart.
At just 3 months old during her first wellness exam at River Park Animal Hospital, our veterinarian detected a heart murmur. Some kittens develop “functional murmurs” that disappear as they grow, so we scheduled a recheck a month later, hoping it would resolve.
It didn’t.
A persistent murmur often suggests a structural issue, so we recommended a cardiac ultrasound. The imaging revealed a small defect in the heart wall. Fortunately, the defect was tiny and did not significantly affect overall heart function. Most importantly, it did not dramatically increase anesthesia risk.
When Lucy went into heat, her family faced a difficult question:
Could she safely undergo spay surgery?
With careful cardiac evaluation and planning, the answer was yes—but with precautions.
Normally, the inner lining of the heart is smooth, making it difficult for bacteria in the bloodstream to attach. However, a small defect can create turbulent blood flow and a roughened area. If bacteria enter the bloodstream, they may attach there and cause infective endocarditis, a serious and potentially life-threatening heart infection.
To protect Lucy, our veterinary team followed cardiology recommendations and administered long-acting antibiotics before surgery, extending protection for two weeks. Her spay was performed safely, and we are hopeful for a smooth recovery.