Fluid in my dog's chest cavity

Hello,

As of last Tuesday, my 3 year old whippet/chocolate lab mix named Kona, started having shortness of breath. I took her to the vet on Saturday after it didn't go away. The vet took an x ray and informed me that Kona's chest cavity was full of fluid. The vet drained 1/2 liter of a white milky fluid from her and told me that she has chylothorax. So the vet sent me home with low fat food and also told me to pick up Rutin to help reduce the fat.

Today is Sunday, and I have seen no improvement in my Kona. The only symptom she has is shortness of breath. She still has an appetite and shows no other signs on pain. I am extremely worried because she did not show any signs on improvement after the fluid was drained from her yesterday. I am drviing myself crazy reading up on this on the internet. The vet is going to call me with the test result tomorrow and I am so worried.

If anybody know anything about this, or has an advice, I would really appreciate it. I just lost my boxer last year and can't bear the thought of another dog so soon.

[Thomas Dock, CVJ, Vet. Technician]

Hi...I am so sorry to her about your little girl!!  I imagine you are having a difficult time, especially after losing another dog so recently.

Chylothorax is a build up of lymph fluid in the chest cavity.  Lymph carries excess fluid along with white blood cells in a circulatory system similar to our blood circulation.  This system is very important to help keep our immune cells in contact with foreign material so that they can protect us.

Occasionally, something interferes with the circulation of the lymph and it begins to build up in the chest.  Heart problems can be one reason, tumors or masses can be other reasons.   Sometimes, the lymph just accumulates for unknown reasons.

You might want to post this question over in our Ask the Vet Expert forum.   They can give you some better, more professional information than I can.  

I wish you the best of luck and let us know about those test results.