My cat had a blood clot and lost leg use. Was euthanasia right?

I'm sorry to hear about the passing of Coco. Generally when cats throw blood clots the prognosis is very very poor. The blood clots can be treated and the cat may pull through but it's highly likely to throw another blood clot even with medications so in general, it is most humane to let these cats pass peacefully and painlessly. It sounds like Coco had a very bad heart and it would have been unlikely that she would have tolerated the fluid therapy needed to help break a clot. It is hard to loose a pet but sometimes euthanizing them is the kindest action we can provide our beloved companions. My condolences.

A stroke, vestibular disease, aortic thrombus clot, and brain tumors are all possible. I know you did not make that decision lightly. At 15 1/2 if she had started to have strokes then she probably also had heart disease and possibly hypertension. IF she had recovered then it is very likely that she would continue to have events in the future. While the “what if’s” can never be answered I think that you should be confident that you made the decision that you felt was best for her and what she was going through. The decision is never easy. I likely would have made the same choice. Take care and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hi, I am sorry to hear of Hugo's problem. i think what you are referring to is a blood clot which is making his back legs useless. Unfortunately, this is a very serious condition and cannot be surgically fixed. It is also very painful, so euthanasia is an option most people choose. Some cats can recover from this with blood thinners but are prone to it happening again. Please discuss your options with your vet, as he or she will be the best one to guide your through Hugo's diagnosis. Again, I am sorry to hear of his problem and wish you the best of luck.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! With out examining Kitty or seeing a picture I can not advise removing the clot. Can you repost with a picture? I would have Kitty examined by a Vet. I wish you the best!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your cat. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Based on the information you provided, I believe you made the correct choice. Bone cancer is extremely painful. If it was in the pelvis and inhibiting her ability to defecate, this would be even more painful. If bone cancer occurs in a limb, that leg can be amputated. This will provide the patient a few more months to live (even this is not a cure). This would likely not have been an option for the pelvis. You relieved her pain and suffering by electing to euthanize her. I know what a heartbreaking choice this is, but you should bravery by putting her needs above your own. I hope this information brings you some peace.

A clot that causes limping is VERY painful. We do not expect cats that have thrown clots to recover without significant treatment. So, that certainly makes it less likely that Luna had a clot. However, I would strongly recommend having her examined to see what is going on. It certainly is not normal for a 6 year old cat to be limping. If Luna does not do well at the vet, maybe a house call vet would be a good option for her. I'm not sure if there is one in your area, but this might be a good place to look for one. http://www.homevets.org/Find_A_Mobile_Vet.html Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that Luna feels better soon. Thanks for using PetCoach.

These are all good signs of improvement of blood flow and movement! Encourage her to gradually use the leg as much as possible and discuss with your veterinarian possible physiotherapy exercise (if she tolerates it) to speed up recovery. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.