Pet Care Articles

Feline aortic thromboembolism, also called "saddle" thrombus or FATE, is a difficult and frustrating disease for the patient, the owner and the veterinarian. This disease, or rather clotting problem, occurs 99 percent of the time as a secondary complication to feline heart disease.

Feline aortic thromboembolism strikes cats that seem completely normal to their owners. Since the symptoms are acute and so severe, most of the time owners think that some type of trauma has happened.

Clinical symptoms of feline aortic thromboembolism vary somewhat from cat to cat; however, the overall appearance and temperament of the animals are very similar. Affected cats vocalize loudly, are weak and uncoordinated or paralyzed in the rear legs, and are restless. On closer examination, the hind limbs may feel cool and the footpads and nail beds are blue.

A thorough physical examination is necessary to diagnose aortic thromboembolism. Blood tests, x-rays and cardiac ultrasound are useful in diagnosing the underlying heart condition as well as eliminating other diseases. Feline aortic thromboembolism is very often associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the most common type of heart disease found in cats.

Cats with heart disease often have enlarged left atrium. The enlarged atrium causes blood flow to stagnate, thereby activating the clotting mechanism. A piece of this clot can break off, travel through the aorta and lodge in smaller arteries. The most common site for embolization is where the caudal aorta branches to form the two iliac arteries. Each iliac artery is responsible for delivering blood to its respective hind leg. Other areas where embolization occurs include (but not limited to) the renal arteries (causing acute renal failure) and cerebral arteries (causing seizures).

There are surgical and medical options for treating cats with feline aortic thromboembolism. Surgery is very risky and involves removing the clot. Prior to surgery, angiography is necessary to localize it. Surgery should be considered a last ditch effort