My cat's cold, pulseless legs: What else besides saddle thrombus?

Monti have had a saddle thrombus which is a blood clot that cuts off circulation to the hind limbs and is usually very painful and not curable, even with heroics at an emergency veterinary hospital. Another possibility is trauma to the spine which is also usually not curable if the hind limbs are not moving/cold. I recommend bringing her to your veterinarian for an assessment and a discussion re: endpoints for humane euthanasia.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If you think Tinkerbell is having back leg problems and she appears to be in pain, I am concerned that this could be what we call a Saddle Thrombus. This is a condition in which a clot breaks free and travels through the aorta down to the saddle (where the femoral arteries branch off of the aorta). This causes paralysis and severe pain. This is typically related to heart disease. I would recommend having Tinkerbell examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

This is an emergency, as your cat could be suffering from a riding thrombus, which is a blood clot that keeps blood flowing from the aorta into the femoral arteries. This is a very painful and life threatening condition. She could also have been a victim of a traffic accident hurting her spinal cord. Please take her to a veterinarian or an emergency room right away. The vet will want to do radiographs and a blood test and your kitty will need treatment depending on the diagnosis today.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm very sorry to hear that Alfie's back legs stopped working acutely. This is really concerning, and I would have him evaluated by a veterinarian right away. This could be due to some sort of trauma/injury, like to his back/spine. It could also be a neurologic problem. It is also possible for cats to get something called an aortic thromboembolism (ATE), which means a blood clot gets lodged in their aorta (the body's major artery) right where the vessels to the hind legs branch off. This is also called a saddle thrombus, and results in acute loss of blood supply to the hind legs, which is extremely painful. Regardless of why Alfie has stopped using his hind legs, I recommend having him examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Your veterinarian can try to localize the issue and decide what treatment is best. I hope this is helpful!

Oh my. This is quite concerning. Bunty could have sustained a musculoskeletal injury to his hips (dislocation) or he could have a saddle thrombus (blood clot in lower limb). He needs to be seen by a vet right away for testing and medical care. I hope your kitty turns out ok. Best wishes and take care.

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.

I am very sorry to hear about Baby boy. I would recommend bringing him in to a vet right away for examination. Being unable to walk is considered an emergency and can many causes, including a saddle thrombus (blood clot blocking supply to the hind legs), a neurological problem such as trauma to the spinal cord or a herniated disk in the spine, a stroke is possible but less common in animals, vestibular disease, brain lesions, electrolyte imbalances due to diabetes or kidney disease, musculoskeletal problems, and more. He truly needs veterinary attention ASAP for his best chance at recovery. Best of luck to you and Baby boy!