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.
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.
Is saddle thrombosis fatal?
A saddle thrombus is a very serious condition that sadly, despite treatment, most cats don’t survive. Your cat will need hospitalisation for intensive treatment and nursing care. Pain relief.
What does saddle thrombus look like?
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.
What is a massive Saddle PE?
Saddle PE is when a large blood clot (thrombus) gets stuck where the main pulmonary artery branches off into a Y-shape to go into each lung. The name refers to the fact that the clot “saddles” on top of both branch arteries. Saddle PEs are rare — they make up only about 2 to 5 percent of all PE cases.
How painful is saddle thrombus?
Clinical signs of saddle thrombus reflect loss of blood supply to one or both hind limbs and usually come on suddenly/acutely and severely. Often the most striking clinical sign is vocalization. This condition is very painful, usually causing the cats to cry excessively.
How do you know if your cat is in a coma?
Symptoms of Stupor and Coma in Cats If your cat is in a coma, he will be completely unconscious and unresponsive to sounds or touch. In a stupor, your cat may be slightly responsive to sound or touch, however, the stimulus must be strong, such as a hard pinch.
Is saddle thrombosis treatable?
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)
How long does it take for a saddle PE to dissolve?
A DVT or pulmonary embolism can take weeks or months to totally dissolve. Even a surface clot, which is a very minor issue, can take weeks to go away. If you have a DVT or pulmonary embolism, you typically get more and more relief as the clot gets smaller.
Is death from a pulmonary embolism quick?
A PE, particularly a large PE or many clots, can quickly cause serious life-threatening problems and, even death. Treatment of a PE often involves anti-coagulation medicines or blood thinners. These medicines can put you at a risk for excessive bleeding if they thin your blood too much.
What do cats do when they are close to death?
Cats are meticulous groomers and love to spend time doing it. When they are approaching the end of life, they lose the energy to groom and begin to look messy and unkempt. They will also develop a detectable unpleasant odour due to toxins building up as their organs stop properly working.