FAT CAT Needs Your Help! 

Saddle thrombi are a devastating consequence of feline cardiomyopathy, resulting in painful paresis and paralysis, usually of the hind limbs.  With care and support, many cats survive the first episode, recover some or all limb function, but then suffer a re-thrombosis.  Preventing, or delaying the second event is a goal of many feline practitioners.  However, no anti-thrombotic agents have been shown to effectively reduce the risk of re-thrombosis. 

FAT CAT (Feline Aortic Thromboembolism: Clopidogrel vs Aspirin Trial) is the first prospective blinded study to examine the ability of an anti-thrombotic (Clopidogrel; Plavix^®) in preventing recurrence of saddle thrombi, compared to aspirin. 

Dr Dan Hogan, at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, with support from the VIN Foundation, is coordinating the study.  Practitioners can enroll cats on-line, manage their cases from their practice (there is no need for cats or clients to be sent to Indiana), and clients are reimbursed for enrolling their pets.  All drugs will be provided by the study co-ordinators.  There is no requirement for study participants to be VIN members. 

To be eligible, cats must have survived an initial saddle thrombus episode by 1-3 months, and have echocardiographic evidence of cardiac disease.  Cats can be provisionally enrolled at the time of the initial event, but will need to survive at least a month to be enrolled. 

Full details of the study can be found at:   www.vin.com/fatcat/

Full protocol details can be found at:  www.vin.com/fatcat/protocol.htm 

Please contact Dr Hogan for further details if you wish to participate in finding a treatment for this disease:  hogandf@purdue.edu