Pulse

[Phoenix]

I've been trying to find out what Dylan's pulse is in relation to what it would be normally (just to see if his murmur's noticeable and to monitor his murmur) but the problem is every time I try checking it Dylan starts purring like an engine so I can't tell the difference between the pulse and the vibrations from Dylan's purrs

Any suggestions on how I can monitor his pulse during the next six months before the vet sees him again?

Or would even trying to find his pulse be a complete waste of time?

[angieh]

Honestly I have no idea of how to take a cat's pulse. Sorry.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by angieh

Honestly I have no idea of how to take a cat's pulse. Sorry.

You feel just behind their front legs, but if they're purring like an engine you can't tell the difference between purrs and the pulse

[angieh]

Given that purring would drown out the sound, would you need a stethoscope?

[yola]

I thought a cat's pulse could be found between the back rather than the front feet; sort of up in the groin area where the inner back leg meets the body?

[Mags]

The easiest place to check for your cat's pulse is the femoral artery in the groin area.

http://www.coolest-cat-care.com/cat-pulse.html

I think you might be better first contacting your vet again to find out which stage of heart murmur Dylan has.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by yola

I thought a cat's pulse could be found between the back rather than the front feet; sort of up in the groin area where the inner back leg meets the body?

In theory you can also find it in the chest area as well yola doesn't help though if the cat's purr drowns out the pulse though

[dandysmom]

Good luck, RCR, never thought to try that.

[Elaine]

Do you have a stethoscope? Personally, I'd leave him be until the vet checks him properly.

[pinklizzy]

Monitoring a cat's pulse is easiest via the femoral pulse,which is as Yola says in the groin area although you can also use the carpal pulse (just above where the cat's 'wrist' would be)-this is what I tend to use when monitoring a cat under GA although I do it in conjunction with using a stethoscope to listen to the heart itself.
It is really only possible to monitor a heart murmur if you can distinguish one grade of murmur from another-not easy to do and if you can monitor the heart sounds and the quality of a peripheral pulse (hence using the carpal pulse as it is further away from the heart)
I really think you're better off making another appointment with your vet if you are worried about Dylan.

ETA-in general, only a very severe murmur could be picked up via palpation of the heart itself. I used to be able to feel it on my old girlie Kindly but hers was a grade 6!