Peter Peter is at the emergency vet. We are requesting PURRS & PRAYERS for him.
A couple of hours ago, he had a hairball. I didn't think anything of it. He strained really hard to get it out, but it really wasn't out of the ordinary.
Then, at almost 5pm, he just collapsed and fell over and started howling. I knew something was wrong, especially when he was limp when I tried to put him into a carrier. I got him to our vet as soon as I could.
They took him back right away. After an examination, the vet said that it was a good thing I got him there right away. It appears that Pete may have either had a heart attack or a stroke, for the early diagnosis was a thoracic blood clot blocking the back half of his body. He wasn't moving his back legs and his back paws were cold by the time I got him to the vet.
Right now, he is having intravenous blood thinners, pain meds, and an IV.
I will keep you updated as I find out anything.
~ Mo
UPDATE Saturday night @ 11:45pm
Peter is spending the night at the Emergency Vet. I just got home from there.
Pete has always had a heart murmur, but it never seemed to be a big deal. However, apparently the murmur was the cause of the blood clot.
He has a thoracic thrombosis, which is a blood clot from his heart, blocking the blood flow to his lower legs. Which means his back legs are paralyzed. He is getting IV fluids and pain meds over night, and is in a temperature controlled oxygen tent.
Unfortunately, the prognosis is not good. IF they can break up the clot with fluids and blood thinners, there still may be damage and paralysis to his back legs. However, if the clot is broken up, it has to go somewhere. The ER vet said most likely to his lungs or brain, which of course presents other problems.
If he survives the first 24 hours, he still is not out of the woods. The best case scenario is that he comes home and I nurse him and pray he regains use of his back legs over the next few weeks. But even with a prescription of blood thinners, most cats who survive the initial episode have recurring clot issues, because the clot is a symptom of heart problems. The ER vet said that even cats who survive the initial clot rarely regain full use of their back legs. But there is some small hope that he will. He is in his prime of life, and was strong and healthy, he has that going for him.
Right now, I just want him home. But after he leaves the ER, he goes back to our regular vet for another day of observation there. Tomorrow night, hopefully he can come home.
Going to take each step as it comes.
Thank you all for your PURRS & PRAYERS, and for you comments. They mean the world to me & Eyad.
~ Mo
UPDATE Saturday night @ 11:45pm
Peter is spending the night at the Emergency Vet. I just got home from there.
Pete has always had a heart murmur, but it never seemed to be a big deal. However, apparently the murmur was the cause of the blood clot.
He has a thoracic thrombosis, which is a blood clot from his heart, blocking the blood flow to his lower legs. Which means his back legs are paralyzed. He is getting IV fluids and pain meds over night, and is in a temperature controlled oxygen tent.
Unfortunately, the prognosis is not good. IF they can break up the clot with fluids and blood thinners, there still may be damage and paralysis to his back legs. However, if the clot is broken up, it has to go somewhere. The ER vet said most likely to his lungs or brain, which of course presents other problems.
If he survives the first 24 hours, he still is not out of the woods. The best case scenario is that he comes home and I nurse him and pray he regains use of his back legs over the next few weeks. But even with a prescription of blood thinners, most cats who survive the initial episode have recurring clot issues, because the clot is a symptom of heart problems. The ER vet said that even cats who survive the initial clot rarely regain full use of their back legs. But there is some small hope that he will. He is in his prime of life, and was strong and healthy, he has that going for him.
Right now, I just want him home. But after he leaves the ER, he goes back to our regular vet for another day of observation there. Tomorrow night, hopefully he can come home.
Going to take each step as it comes.
Thank you all for your PURRS & PRAYERS, and for you comments. They mean the world to me & Eyad.
~ Mo
