Thank you, Tigerz. He was a sweet cat. We miss him.
Cat, thank you. I owe that month with Sonny to the 24-hour referral practice that I took him to immediately. We apparently found Sonny within just a few hours of the episode (probably within 2-3 hours max. of the thrombus), and I had him at the hospital within another hour, tops. It was predominantly one rear leg that was lame. I can't remember if it was cool to the touch already; I think I still remember his toes being pink, but that might be my recollection later.
I don't know all details, but from what I recall, the admitting doc started him on pain meds right away, fluids, I'm sure other stuff too, and they kept him for 3-4? days. The following day, the cardiologist was in, and I know they were monitoring electrolytes. Ironically, we had just found the presumed-solitary lung mass just two? days prior at my own clinic, and had a full panel of bloods too, not to mention a BP - all findings had been fine except for that mass.
The month doesn't seem like alot, but prior to the exam/bloods/rads, Sonny was doing great. My husband noted that he was just acting a bit 'off' - but was still eating, etc. Ten year old cat... no prior history of anything bad, and he was seen yearly or even twice yearly. So I went from having what I thought was a healthy cat, to "lung mass" - and then, surprise, saddle thrombus but days later.. and this was just months after I got my KSU acceptance letter.
I think the key factor in getting him past the initial thrombus was that I found him quick, and got him there quick. The hospital has multiple specialists and all the great 'toys', great staff, etc. He was lucky in that his medical management got him through the episode. I know that in many cases these cats do not regain perfusion of the leg, or kick out more clots/emboli, etc.
I think I had Sonny back there twice for rechecks, and in-anticipation/hopes of removing the lung mass. The cardiologist was amazed at how well he was walking 2 weeks later. In hind-sight, I probably wouldn't pursue a chest surgery now, if presented with the same scenario again - but it's hard to put everything in perspective when your cat isn't terribly old, was previously great, and the general consensus/ideal was that it was just one lone mass. I know a CT would've shown the nodules that the rads didn't, but I was willing to skip the CT and let them cut him, once we got past the thrombus. Unfortunately it was not to be so 'simple'.
It will be two years next month since we lost him, and I still miss him. I have his brother littermate still - from when they were tiny, and the two were inseparable.
