How long can a cat live with saddle thrombus?
The cat will need heart medication, blood thinners, and nursing care while the rear legs recover. Median survival of saddle thrombus cats with heart failure is 77 days while median survival of saddle thrombus cats without heart failure is 223 days.
Should I euthanize my cat with saddle thrombus?
EUTHANASIA: Because of the potential for repeat saddle thrombus episodes, need for regular medication administration at home, potential long term treatment of heart disease, not to mention the seriousness & painfulness of the cat’s initial predicament, 25% of pet owners elect euthanasia without attempting treatment.
What does saddle thrombus look like in cats?
Signs of Saddle Thrombus in Cats It may look as if the cat suddenly has a broken back. Upon further investigation, you may see that the paw pads are pale or bluish-gray in color and cold to the touch.
Can cats recover from blood clots?
Any type of blood clot requires immediate treatment to give the cat the best chance to recover. Be aware, however, that most cats who “throw” a blood clot will experience another one a few months later.
Can saddle thrombus be cured?
Owners must realize that a repeat episode can occur at any time because the underlying heart disease can be treated, but not cured. A repeat episode may be thromboembolism of a major organ, which carries a grave prognosis. From an emergency standpoint, saddle thrombus is absolutely an emergency situation.
How do you treat a thrombus saddle?
These following methods are considered most commonly employed in these cases:
- Heparin and/or aspirin (“blood thinning” drugs to help prevent further clot formation)
- Thrombolytic drugs (to help “dissolve” the clot itself, sometimes applied to the clot itself)
- Surgery (to remove the clot)
Is saddle thrombus in cats hereditary?
Aortic thromboembolism, also referred to as saddle thrombus, is more common in cats in comparison to dogs, and it is believe to be hereditary in nature.
Why do cats get saddle thrombus?
Causes. Saddle thrombi are most common in cats with heart disease. This is because cats with heart disease often develop large clots inside their heart that release small clots into the blood stream. Other, less common causes include hyperthyroidism and cancer.
What causes a cat to throw a blood clot?
By far the most common cause of blood clots in cats is heart disease. Most cats with heart disease get enlarged hearts – this causes the blood in the heart to swirl around more.
What happens to a cat with a saddle thrombus?
The outlook for cats that have a saddle thrombus depends on the severity of the obstruction and the extent of the underlying heart disease. Cats with milder blockages that affect only one leg or don’t cause complete paralysis of the legs can eventually recover full function and do relatively well.
What kind of blood clot does a cat have?
Saddle Thrombus: Aortic Blood Clots in Cats. Feline aortic thromboembolism (FATE), also known as saddle thrombus is a serious and sometimes fatal complication of heart disease in cats.
What’s the prognosis for a cat with aortic thromboembolism?
Long-term prognosis varies between two months to several years; however, the average is approximately a few months with treatment. Most cats that survive the initial episode will be on some type of medication to prevent blood clotting (anticoagulant therapy) and may require frequent re-evaluations and an indoor lifestyle.
What causes a thromboembolism in a feline?
BSTRACT Feline arterial thromboembolism (ATE) is a complete or partial obstruction of a peripheral artery caused by a thrombus that was formed at a distant site. The most common underlying cause in cats is cardiomyopathy.