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COHCM educational moment: this pulsating on Smeagol's neck is jugular venous distention, which is a sign of congestive heart failure. Because his heart isn't able to pump his blood effectively anymore, the blood backs up and causes increased pressure in the veins coming back from the head to his heart. That pressure increase causes the visible bulging neck veins. This is also seen in people with heart failure! Smeagol's heart failure is well managed on a cocktail of medications to help his heart pump better and help him pee off this extra fluid, but it will never be "cured" and go away completely because HCM has no permanent cure in cats yet (there's some cool procedures they're doing for people with HCM and human only meds that help, but they're not available in the veterinary world yet). Smeags has been living with HCM for 11 of his 12.5 years so he doesn't know any different. He's just happy to have treats twice a day after his pills and snuggle in his heated beds while I'm at work 🥰
#themoreyouknow #Smeagol #jvd #heartfailure #hcmsucks #hcm #heartwarrior #nakedcat #hairlesscat #sphynx #sphynxofinstagram #ifitisntasphynxitsjustacat #catsofinstagram #petco #trupanion #chewy #petsmart
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