Successful Arterial Thromboembolism Therapy in a Cat with Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator Using an Accelerated Dosing Protocol

An 8-year old female Korean Short Hair cat with a history of paralysis of both hind limbs less than 1 hour before admission was referred. On physical examination, the left hind limb was cold and there was no pulsation or mobility. On abdominal ultrasound examination, a thrombus 8 mm in length was found at the aortic bifurcation. The patient was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and cardiogenic pulmonary edema through radiologic evaluation and echocardiography. A tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) was applied intravenously using an accelerated dosing protocol (1 mg administered intravenously [IV] bolus, 2.5 mg IV over 30 min, 1.5 mg IV over 1 h) to treat the feline arterial thromboembolism. Within 12 h after administration of tPA, pulsation and mobility of both hind limbs were normal, without any noticeable complications. Clopidogrel was prescribed to prevent additional thrombus formation, and pimobendan, benazepril, and furosemide were prescribed for administration at home. The patient was discharged and survived 377 days.