The main reason diabetics are cautious when it comes to potatoes is their very high glycemic index (GI) value. The glycemic index is important for diabetics because it is a measure of the impact a particular food has on blood glucose levels once it has been digested.
The two most common causes of congestive heart failure in dogs are mitral valve insufficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy. In cats, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common heart disease. Genetic predisposition is clearly the most common underlying reason for the development of congestive heart failure.
Cardiomyopathy (heart disease) in cats Cardiomyopathy is the name given to any disease affecting the heart muscle itself. This is the most common form of heart disease seen in cats, and the most common cause of heart failure. Disease of the heart valves (causing 'leaky' valves which prevent the heart functioning normally) are an important and common cause of heart disease in humans and in dogs, but this is rarely seen in cats.