Blood Clots in Cats Back Legs

Cats with partial or total ATE usually are taken to the veterinarian because the cat is unable to use one or both the rear legs. One thing is for sure the external environment is packed with.

Aortic Thromboembolism In Cats Vca Animal Hospitals

If this supply is suddenly blocked a cat can become paralysed on its back legs.

. When it gets stuck its now called an embolism. The most common blockage point is in the lower abdomen where the aorta the main blood vessel leaving the heart forms two branches going to the back legs see Rough Diagram. The symptoms associated with cardiac blood clots in cats can vary depending on the cause of the condition.

Clots can occur in cats of any age and type but are most likely to form in middle aged purebred male cats. In this case a thrombus or a blood clot lodges at the aortic bifurcation where the vessel splits into the two arteries that supply the rear limbs blocking or compromising the blood flow to the rear legs. Noticeable weight loss or weight gain Increased thirst and urination Increased appetite or no appetite at all.

This is the stuff of nightmares. Here are some of the causes and reasons for wobbly back legs. Bluish tint in foot pads or nails.

A blood clot in the superficial veins. The cats legs will be evaluated to assess the clinical response to therapy. This is typical of a cat which is paralysed from the waist down eg fr.

An aortic thromboembolism is a blood clot that generally forms in the heart and then moves down the large artery aorta that provides blood to the abdomen and hind legs of the cat. Saddle Thrombus Can Cause Sudden Back Leg Weakness in Older Cats. This is where a blood clot blocks the descending aorta leading from the heart the descending aorta supplies blood to the entire back end of the cat.

Trouble walking or changes in gait. This condition is usually a complication of heart disease or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy although other health conditions may contribute to it as well. You didnt let Tabby down but gave him all the love and good care in the world then let him go peacefully in order to spare him fear and pain.

An aneurysm is an enlargement of a blood vessel caused by weakening of the middle layer of the blood vessel. Our last cat had chronic heart disease HCM and several bouts of CHF - my greatest fear was losing him to a saddle thrombosis. This seems to be more common in cats less than 4 years or age or older than 10 years of age.

The result in the case of a saddle thrombus an embolism at the base of the aorta is that it cuts off the blood supplymostly to the back legs which is an extremely painful condition. Shallow or labored breathing. Clots often require a blood thinner like Pradaxa Xarelto or even aspirin.

Disruption of the inner lining of a blood vessel associated with an aneurysm can cause formation of a blood clot with subsequent blockage of the blood vessel by the clot. Vomiting Pain especially in the legs Difficulty breathing Anxious temperament Vocalizing such as by crying continuously. Forget broken bones and fractured teeth.

Serious blood clots may need other medical interventions such as an IVC filter. Therefore complications arising in the aorta can be very serious. This is called a superficial venous thrombosis SVT.

Symptoms appear suddenly and include. This black and white cat has an injury that is preventing her from using her hind legs. This is a serious condition in cats in which a thrombus blood clot affects the blood flow to the hind legs of the cat.

However what is far more common is a disease called aortic thromboembolism ATE also known as a saddle thrombus. A thrombus is a blood clot which can be common in cats with heart disease. The cats circulatory system is quite similar to that of humans.

Aortic thromboembolism also known as saddle thrombus occurs when a blood clot cuts off the blood supply to the cats hind legs leaving his two back limbs paralyzed. Some cats are prone to getting out of the house most of the time. Blood clots typically will not go away on their own.

Be on the lookout for symptoms of two types of blood clots that can form in the legs. There may be permanent nervous system damage or the hind leg muscles may be adversely affected. Sometimes an SVT can grow and become a deep-vein thrombosis A blood clot in the deep leg veins.

It causes redness tenderness or pain over varicose veins Dr. In humans blood clots can happen due to changes in hormone levels altitude or a sedentary lifestyle but the primary cause of blood clots in cats is actually heart failure. This spot is known as the saddle and it is common for the blood clot to come to rest at the top of that point leading to the term saddle thrombus.

Typically the blood clot forms in the heart and then moves down the aorta the largest artery in the body which provides blood to the abdomen and rear legs of the cat. Aneurysms are rare in cats. The following is a list of the most common symptoms reported in cats with this condition.

A pulmonary thromboembolism PTE describes a blood clot that has moved through the blood vessels lodged in one of the pulmonary arteries and has blocked blood flow into the portion of the lung served by that artery. Aortic thromboembolismis a common heart condition which results from a blood clot dislodging within the aorta leading to the interruption of blood flow to tissues served by that segment of the aorta. Further this condition is commonly a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or a complication of heart malady even though other health illnesses might contribute to it too.

If a blood clot detaches the leg pain or soreness can also move. The clots can also effect other organs even the brain of the feline. Benson explains A blood clot dislodges from somewhere in the body then lodges at the pelvic end of the aorta where the blood vessels split to go down the legs an area known as the saddle resulting in lack of blood flow.

Irrespective of the condition making your cat to drag his or her back legs you should seek prompt medical attention for your cat. Severe pain crying fast breathing hiding Being unable to stand dragging one or both back legs occasionally a front leg Licking or chewing the affected leg s Firm muscles in the affected leg s Affected leg s cold to. Migration of soreness is another sign that it is likely not a pulled muscle.

Although there can be a number of causes one of the most common and painful in cats is a saddle thrombus. Aortic thromboembolism is also called saddle thrombus happens when a blood clot cuts the blood supply off to the hind legs of the cat leaving its two back limbs paralyzed. There is a high rate of recurrence of blood clot formation.

Assess your cat for other symptoms of blood clots. Blood clotting tests will be performed if anti-clotting medication is used.

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