Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Gas gangrene in a cat after blood clot treated with clopidogrel
By Simpson, C et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2025·Victoria 24hr Veterinary Hospital·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Gas gangrene due to Clostridium haemolyticum in a cat with aortic thromboembolism treated using clopidogrel and rivaroxaban.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 12-year-old Bengal cat with heart issues showed signs of aortic thromboembolism, which can cause sudden leg pain and weakness. The cat was treated with medications to prevent blood clots and pain relief, but its condition worsened unexpectedly, leading to a serious infection called gas gangrene in the hind leg. Unfortunately, the cat had to be euthanized, and tests confirmed the presence of a harmful bacteria. The researchers suggest that giving a specific antibiotic could help prevent this rare but severe complication in similar cases.
People also search for: cat aortic thromboembolism treatment · gas gangrene in cats · clopidogrel for cats · cat heart disease symptoms
Abstract
A 12-year-old Bengal cat with unclassified cardiomyopathy presented for signs consistent with aortic thromboembolism (ATE). It was treated with clopidogrel and rivaroxaban as antithrombotic therapy, combined with narcotic analgesia and frusemide. After initially making a clinical improvement, the cat's condition suddenly deteriorated, with a presumptive diagnosis of clostridial myonecrosis. We posit that ischaemia due to ATE allowed dormant clostridial spores in the left hindlimb to germinate and multiply vegetatively, resulting in the elaboration of potent Gram-positive exotoxins, resulting in the clinical syndrome of gas gangrene, with emphysematous change in the affected limb. Samples collected following euthanasia confirmed the presumptive diagnosis, and Clostridium haemolyticum was isolated after prolonged anaerobic broth culture. The authors propose that benzyl penicillin be given intravenously to cats with ATE as bacterial prophylaxis to prevent this unusual but devastating sequela developing.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39739656/