Q: Latte, our 8-year-old indoor cat, suddenly started crying and pulling himself along on his front legs while dragging his back legs. We rushed him to his veterinarian who diagnosed a saddle thromboembolism and recommended euthanasia because Latte’s prognosis was so dire. We agreed, but because of Latte’s stress and ours at the time, we don’t remember everything the vet said about his condition. Please explain it. A: I am so sorry to hear of your experience and extend my condolences. A saddle thromboembolism is a clot that forms in the heart, travels through the large artery called the aorta, and lodges at the “saddle” where the aorta branches into the arteries that supply blood to the hind legs. The clot blocks blood flow to the hind legs, causing severe pain, loss of hind leg function, cool hind paws with pale or bluish pads, and diminished or absent pulses in …