Cardiogenic arterial thromboembolism causing non-ambulatory tetraparesis in a cat

Abstract

A 1-year-old oriental cat was presented with a peracute onset of tetraparesis and vocalisation. Clinical findings were suggestive of multi-site thromboembolic disease, and this was confirmed on post-mortem examination. An echocardiogram showed severe restrictive cardiomyopathy and spontaneous echogenic contrast. To the author's knowledge, this is the first reported case of tetraparesis secondary to cardiogenic arterial thromboembolic disease. Thromboembolic disease should be included as a differential diagnosis for any cat presented with a peracute onset of paresis or paralysis, even if there is no history of cardiac disease.