Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Blood clots blocking leg arteries in cats - signs and survival
By Schoeman, J P·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·1999·The Veterinary Hospital, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Feline distal aortic thromboembolism: a review of 44 cases (1990-1998).
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 44 cats, mostly neutered male domestic shorthairs around 8 years old, experienced a serious condition called distal aortic thromboembolism, which can cause sudden paralysis in the back legs. Many of these cats had underlying heart problems, and unfortunately, only about 39% survived the episodes. Some cats were treated with aspirin to prevent further clots, but 17% still had re-embolization. The average survival time after the episode was about six months, with a significant number of cats needing euthanasia due to the severity of their condition.
People also search for: cat back leg paralysis · cat heart disease symptoms · cat thromboembolism treatment
Abstract
The clinical case records of 44 cats with distal aortic thromboembolism were reviewed. These detailed 49 separate episodes of thromboembolism. Of the 44 cats, 33 (75%) were neutered males, and 43 (98%) were domestic shorthairs. The mean age was 8.7 years (age range 2-16 years). Evidence of pre-existing heart disease had been noted in 23% of cases. Heart failure was a concurrent diagnosis in 51% of episodes and 36% of these cases survived their thromboembolic episodes. Overall, cats survived 39% of the episodes. Cats died during 28% of the episodes, while 33% of the episodes resulted in the cats being euthanased. The median survival time was 6 months. Seventeen per cent of cats on prophylactic aspirin therapy experienced an episode of re-embolisation. Forty-three per cent of episodes occurred in the spring.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11714239/