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Sue Chipperton www.tailsticks.com/AP
The canine community lost a celebrated member when Gidget, the Taco Bell Chihuahua, recently died in her fifteenth golden year. Gidget reportedly expired from complications brought on by a stroke. A stroke is the common term for sudden onset decreased brain activity resulting from lack of proper blood flow and deficient oxygenation of brain tissue.
A stroke is commonly caused when a blood clot impedes normal flow of blood through a blood vessel. The blood clot (thrombus) forms when an injury occurs on the inner wall of a blood vessel or blood stasis (lack of movement) occurs. A thromboembolism (TE) occurs when a thrombus obstructs blood flow to tissue downstream from where the thrombus lodges in the blood vessel. Without proper blood supply and oxygen, the affected tissue dies and life threatening clinical signs occur. Collectively, stroke and TE are known as thromboembolic disease.
TE affects geriatric and adult dogs more commonly than juveniles. TE is more likely to occur secondary to other underlying disease, such as infection, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and metabolic disease (kidney disease, Cushing’s disease, other), or intravenous catheter placement. TE can adversely affect blood flow to many body systems, including the brain (stroke), kidney (renal TE), lung (pulmonary TE), or other organs.
Clinical signs of TE include (but are not limited to):
Behavior changes- distressed vocalizing, agitation, lethargy, disorientation
Postural changes- collapse, difficulty walking, paralysis, tremor, weakness
Neurologic abnormalities- seizure, nystagmus (rapid eye movement), coma
Pain
Cold limbs or pale appearance to paw pads
Gastrointestinal abnormalities- vomit, diarrhea, anorexia
If your pet experiences these clinical signs, immediately pursue an evaluation by a veterinarian.
The most common presentation I see in pets is a “saddle thrombus” in a cat. The saddle thrombus occurs then the thrombus lodges at the bifurcation of the major blood vessel supplying the hind body, causing TE affecting the hind body tissues. These cats are distressed, vocalizing, and drag their cold/painful hind limbs. It is a sudden onset, life threatening emergency that often leads to the owner electing euthanasia to end the cat’s suffering.
My condolences to the Gidget’s family for her loss. I fondly recall her cute expressions and natural acting prowess during her starring roles in many Taco Bell advertisements.
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