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Original poster

Saddle clot

78 replies

ThreeQuartersEmpty · 02/10/2014 11:29

My cat came home last night crying and not himself. He kept wanting to sit down, his back leg seemed sore. Thought he might have been hit by a car. Phoned the emergency vet who said if his leg not obviously funny shape and not bleeding to leave him be and take to vet this morning.

Got appointment first thing. Vet says he has probably got a clot in his back leg caused by heart disease. Hes on strong painkillers and is staying in.

Ive googled. And I'm so sad.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 02/10/2014 11:55

Best of luck to him and let us know how you get on.

Original poster
ThreeQuartersEmpty · 02/10/2014 12:57

Thank you.

He is only about 8 years old. (He is a rescue, weve had him 6 years.)

Vet is to phone later when theyve done tests, x rays etc. He will be stressed out, hates the vets. I know its the best place for him to be but I cant bear to think of him there.

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cozietoesie · 02/10/2014 13:30

You're right - it's the best place for him to be. Cats are great pragmatists as well so he'll probably just hunker down to wait it out. (If they're to do an xray, I should imagine they'll give him a sedative anyway so he might be pretty sleepy also.) Have you planned a taste treat for his return home?

Original poster
ThreeQuartersEmpty · 02/10/2014 15:36

Thanks cozie for thinking in the positive. I've been dreading the vets call, as he asked if we wanted to pts this morning, and google didn't help.

He can have his favourite tuna when he gets home. Hes not normally allowed it.

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Original poster
ThreeQuartersEmpty · 03/10/2014 22:25

Update. X-rays showed enlarged heart and fluid filled lungs. But now he is out of the oxygen tent, and the vet is pleased with his lungs. this morning the vet said he wasn't happy with his bad leg as it was turning purple and obv had no blood getting to it. But this evening the nurse has said there is some blood returning as his pads are getting pinker and he's breathing much better.

He turned down all different variations of cat food, but managed a bit of ham! That's him training the vets, so he must be feeling better.

He's not using his back leg yet, but I'm hopeful tonight that it may be because it's still sore or pins and needles.

The blood clot seems to be dissolving. If all well he will be on heart meds and aspirin for the foreseeable. Don't mind that.

I really miss him. It was all so sudden. One minute he's normal, next he's had the equivalent of a stroke.

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Original poster
ThreeQuartersEmpty · 03/10/2014 22:34

Anybody else had a good outcome from this?

I won't have him suffer.

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cozietoesie · 03/10/2014 22:52

Well that's a little more positive for the lad. has the vet put him on any meds or treatment while he's there?

hiddenhome · 03/10/2014 23:22

Hope he manages to make a full recovery Thanks

Original poster
ThreeQuartersEmpty · 03/10/2014 23:47

Yes cosie, he's on all sorts. Don't ask me what,
Hep something for heart. And he's been on IV since DH took him in.
I trust these vets I've had them for other animals for years.

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cozietoesie · 04/10/2014 08:41

Fingers crossed for him then. He's still a pretty young cat - in my book at any rate - so he has at least a chance, especially as he's in the best place at the moment.

Let us know how things go.

fizzymittens · 04/10/2014 11:51

Good luck. It is such a shock when you think that all is well and life is normal and then suddenly you are thrown in to a situation like this. Keep positive and be glad you have what sounds like a great vet. Do let us know how he gets on.

Original poster
ThreeQuartersEmpty · 04/10/2014 13:43

Well last night he managed to pull out his line, and had to be sedated to get it back in. Nearly wiped out a vet and two nurses! Strong big man cat even with a dodgy heart and a paralysed back leg.

Vet says some heat beginning to return to leg, but not enough yet.
Still on iv painkillers and drug to dissolve the clot. Breathing much better, fluid nearly all drained off lungs.

still no talk of possible outcomes, wait and see how he responds is the most I can get out of the vet.

On a positive note, I got a lie in this morning without someone licking my nose to get me up for breakfast. The house is very quiet without him stomping about.

Thanks for all the good luck wishes.

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hiddenhome · 04/10/2014 22:22

It sounds like he's improving. He sounds feisty too Smile

Fluffycloudland77 · 04/10/2014 22:29

Some heats better than none though. Keep praying.

RubbishMantra · 05/10/2014 03:54

Sending good, positive thoughts to you and your cat.

Original poster
ThreeQuartersEmpty · 06/10/2014 14:23

Hes coming home! Picking him up after surgery closes tonight.
Vet says his back leg 50% improved and if we continue physio by massaging it that it may improve further.

Normally a saddle thrombosis affects both back legs, so apparently he was lucky it is a small clot only affecting one.

He may have 1 week, 1 month, 1 year, 5 years before it happens again. but we will give him his heart meds and he'll be on aspirin to keep his blood thin, and we will see how we get on.

Thanks to everyone for letting me talk.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 06/10/2014 14:43

Oh well done that's fantastic news!. Yy to physio, you can build new blood vessels in humans if an artery blocks so hopefully cats are the same.

cozietoesie · 06/10/2014 14:55

Great! Smile

Is he allowed tuna for his homecoming or shall you have to substitute another treat?

Original poster
ThreeQuartersEmpty · 06/10/2014 15:25

Dont know about the tuna. Will speak to vet re his diet when we pick him up. We only feed him cat food, well mostly, if you open a pack of ham he would take your arm off to get some, and opening a can of tuna sets off a frenzy. Grin

Neighbours feed him all sorts. He comes home most evenings with whole chicken breasts, ribs, drumsticks, everything. But thats a whole other thread. I'm going to have to speak to her again, and that'll be a nightmare conversation. She does a good line in nodding and agreeing and then ignoring and feeding anyway.

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cozietoesie · 06/10/2014 15:54

Tricky - but shall you be keeping him inside for a bit because of his illness? If so, now may be the time to tell her/them how seriously unwell he was and how he'll now need to be on really strict controls.

Maybe - just maybe - that will be enough to help? Best of luck anyway.

Original poster
ThreeQuartersEmpty · 06/10/2014 19:45

He's home. Dragging his bad leg behind him, and "knuckling" - standing on the wrong side of his foot. I've to keep massaging it and encouraging him to put weight on it. He looks very sorry for himself with his shaved legs.

He's being kept indoors until we see the vet again in just over a fortnight.

For a treat I made him oven baked white fish. He managed to eat a little bit and has left the rest in his bowl. He's hobbled over to the bifold doors where he is lying on the heated floor with his back to us. I been thoroughly warned to keep a close eye on him. Sad

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cozietoesie · 06/10/2014 20:15

Poor lad. Where does he normally sleep of a night?

Original poster
ThreeQuartersEmpty · 06/10/2014 20:43

Wherever he wants Cozie! Grin but he's fond of the rug under the table on top the underfloor heating.
I'ts only a few hobble steps from where he is. As are his bowls and litter tray.

I've managed to get his first tablet eaten by hiding it in pate. Nurses orders!

He doesn't look very well.

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cozietoesie · 06/10/2014 21:12

Well he's been a very ill boy so that's understandable. Probably best just to leave him be physically - apart from his massages - and just talk to him a lot.

Best of luck to him and let us know how he does overnight. At least he's home with his loving people and that should help his spirit enormously.

Original poster
ThreeQuartersEmpty · 06/10/2014 21:31

Thanks Cozie, yes he's pleased to see DS.

He's normally a very vocal cat, but there's not been a peep out of him. DS is under instructions to keep quiet and not disturb him. To let him sleep and just enjoy being home with familiar surroundings.

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