https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/p/cf8e6b7c-3816-4abb-b7c7-ba8a842ce9af/
By Dr. Becker
Saddle thrombus is an original name for a very serious disease that occurs in cats, and much less often in dogs. The disorder is also called aortic thromboembolism, as well as feline aortic thromboembolism (FATE).
The disease occurs in animals with heart disease and affects up to 25 percent of cats with heart disease. hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is a common feline heart disease. FUTURE usually occurs without warning and may be the first and only sign of heart disease in some cats.
In dogs, other causes of saddle thrombus include hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s disease), protein-losing nephropathy (a kidney problem), and sepsis, which is an infection of the whole body.
An aortic thromboembolism is a blood clot that forms in the heart. Part of the clot dislodges and travels through the aorta. The aorta is the largest artery in the body. It originates in the heart and extends along the entire length of the back.
In the lower abdomen, the aorta divides into two arteries to supply the hind legs. This slit, where the aorta becomes the left and right iliac arteries, is called the saddle. Eventually, the dislodged blood clot gets stuck, often in the wedge at the top of the saddle, hence the name saddle thrombus.
Symptoms of saddle thrombus
Signs of aortic thromboembolism in kittens depend on which blood vessels are blocked and whether the blockage is partial or complete. If the clot goes beyond the saddle and enters only one iliac artery, only that hind leg will be involved. If it is right at the slot, both hind legs will be involved.
When blood flow is blocked to the saddle, the hind legs become cold and hard as muscles and nerves swell due to lack of oxygen and nutrients. The animal may drag one or both legs, scream or even howl in pain, and may also pant or breathe with its mouth open.
The nails and pads of the hind legs may appear bluish due to lack of oxygen and the cat may show signs of shock. Sudden paralysis is also a common symptom of this disease.
Diagnosing saddle thrombus
The onset of saddle thrombus symptoms is usually very rapid and constitutes a serious medical emergency. If you think your pet is showing signs of this condition, seek emergency veterinary care immediately.
Your veterinarian can often detect a heart murmur or abnormal heart sounds, and some signs of heart failure may already be present. In FATE patients, the rectal temperature is usually low. The lower the temperature, the more serious the situation.
Diagnostic tests typically performed include a complete blood count (CBC) to check anemia, infection and blood clotting factors; a biochemical profile to check the functioning of the organs; and chest x-rays to assess the size of the heart and the condition of the lungs.
An echocardiogram will assess heart function and the degree of heart disease present, and a Doppler ultrasound is the method used to confirm a lack of blood flow to the rear limbs.
Treatment options
An animal suffering from saddle thrombus is usually in shock and may already be in shock. heart failurethe situation is therefore life-threatening, even with immediate veterinary care.
Even if there is no or controllable heart failure or shock, the animal still has heart disease and a blood clot in the left side of the heart that could dislodge another embolism at any time.
Unfortunately, about a quarter of cat owners ultimately decide to euthanize their pet due to the extreme pain the pet experiences, the risk of disease recurrence, and the need for long-term management of the heart disease. , even in cases where the animal survives the initial crisis.
For owners who choose to treat the condition, the goal of blood clot management is to relieve pain, provide supportive care in the form of fluid therapy, and treat circulatory shock. The animal must be cage-rested and a lot of nursing care will be required to keep the paralyzed patient clean and comfortable.
An alternative and very encouraging treatment for FATE is medicinal leech. Israeli veterinarian Dr. Sagiv Ben-Yakir has achieved about a 90% success rate in returning cats with FATE to normal lives using leech therapy.
In addition to managing clots, the underlying heart disease must be treated. I recommend that all cats who have survived an episode of saddle thrombus be placed on lifelong ubiquinol supplementation (ubiquinol is the reduced form of CoQ10).
It is also important to prevent additional clots from forming. I recommend a supplement called nattokinase for this purpose.
Most cats who survive a FATE episode regain normal limb function within a few months. However, they usually require a lot of nursing care until they are mobile again. Recurrences of aortic thromboembolism are common, usually a year or two after the first episode. Partnering with an integrative veterinarian using holistic preventative strategies is a very good idea.
Related Articles: