Fluid in my dogs chest cavity

[sun_sh1ne]

Hi there - not sure if anyone has had this happened to their animal...but my 9 year old Shepard Cross recently went from healthy dog to all of a sudden on the verge of dieing.

Tuesday last week.. he started moaning when he sat down.. and because with the warm weather.. we have walked him way more.. and thought maybe his joints were hurting.  

It wasn't till Friday that my hubby and I noticed him breathing heavy on his side and would start groaning when he sat down.  Finally on Sunday we decided to take Siefer to our vet nearby to see if he has an upset tummy or not.  He started having stinky farts.. which isn't abnormal for him..

So on Monday, we took him out and it went from good news 'oh nothing seems to be bugging him at all'.. and we're like 'oh thank gosh.. maybe he just has tummy problems again.. ate something wrong'.  Then she went to listen to his heart.. and could barely.  He had no fever but it was on the high end of the temperature scale.  She then insisted we do xrays... which after $400 we were hoping it was nothing.  Nope.. they could barely see his heart.. saying all the the fluid around his heart is making the xray almost seem ghostly.. his lungs have shriveled up making it the reason why he is having trouble breathing.

They done rushed us to emergency and he had to get an ultrasound done as well as withdrawing fluid to ease the pain and to test it.. with some bloodwork.  We get the results tomorrow but I'm just hoping that I go the right direction.  Everything online seems unsupported in regards to surgery due to the closeness of the heart.. and with his older age... but I just don't want to get tossed around.  It's not about money but after $1400.. i know with additonal info.. it will cost more and more... but I want him to be better not worse.  

Today he is lethargic... and I feel so bad.  My little dog.. she's 5.. knows something is up and she is worried for him.  He has had loose stool and bad gas.. I assume due to stress... and I hope.. and he's eating well...

I am so sad.. and my hubby finally broke down last night as its his dog.. they are really bonded.  We just lost my 15 year old husky last year so this seems way too close and way too fast....

Any suggestions?  Any knowledge to know if this is a few day, few weeks or few months to live?

I am just trying to be prepared.. although we never can be I guess.

Thank you in advance!

[Idisqus]

Yes , that is how my Story goes , I had a Border Collie he was coughing  throwing up clear fluid , took to his vet they said its nothing it will pass. By that late night he became listless panting restless and cool  then he stood up and drank 1 full bowl of water.., I warmed him with Blankets then took him to Emergency VET ..they stuck a needle in his chest and with drew fluid and it looked bloody , she the DR said di he get into Rat poison ?? I said not that I a aware ..since he spend most every moment with me ,,she the Vet then said the best thing to do is EUTHANIZE him I said what ?? she said Cancer shows that signs How can  make this ultimate decision when only it was the first Visit ?? they put hi to sleep I am beyond pissed off..and missing him

[ABBY_LULU]

I'm exhausted-in all ways! We are dealing with the same-fluid in chest cavity. Bought our liter mate female rotts 91/2 years ago! feel soo lucky to have had them this long! Lucy (aka-LuLu) has hearing problems-so glad she has her sister-Abby-as they work together like yen & yang! Lu came down ill a few days before Christmas. I'm 56 and these babies let you know-you're alive by the buckets of tears we've shed! Soo much money-with not much hope of keeping them forever!  Lu's on Lasik and now a heart med-which is impossible to get in her-as she is not eating- nothing-for 3 days now. They are so smart-she knows there's something unusual wrapped in anything we try to hide meds in and spits it out! Can't get anything in her! Go for 2nd x-ray 2maro. I'm soo scared she won't wake up after sedation and don't want her to leave us in a vets office. My hope is dwindling! So-what's left? I'm getting ready to draw on my own experience! I wouldn't be here myself if it weren't for flax seed(but that's another story-sort of tied to this one). I have some Chaga extract (it's a suppliment-you can look this up on wikipedia). At this point-I feel-what can it hurt to try! They both have knots that I suspect are tumors and maybe the Chaga will destroy them! I would've tried anything if someone would've told me-when I was in SOO much pain! I know-all things come & go-but its the suffering and pain I don't deal well with! And as long as I have breath-I will not allow the physical pain-in myself-or for the things I love to suffer without trying something-ANYTHING-that might help! If the natural remendies can help us-why not our pets? After all-they eat grass for a reason and other plants 2 that I don't understand-but they do! I've even seen them eat bark off trees! We are fortunate to have a vet that will come to our home and lay her to rest-if it comes to that. I'm so Thankful to all of you (tho I've bawled my eyes out with each of your experiences!)) I will keep in touch and wish the best for all our LOVED ONES!!  

[Chloestar]

Can I ask how expensive the port surgery was?  Did the dog tolerate surgery well?  My almost 12 year old baby was just diagnosed with same but unfortunately we cannot afford several thousand for surgery and are hoping the port is an option.  What low fat food did you use? Mine is very picky and won't eat hills or royal canine and getting her to take the rutin is a nightmare!  Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

[nesslou1]

Thank you so much Ghilly reading your words have given me comfort We lost are Bestest bestest friend today from this condition Heartbreaking x

[gottalovedogs]

Think my comment was lost! If not, sorry for the duplicate reply.

My 6-year-old dog has been fighting idiopathic chylothorax for over a year. We tried the low fat diet (Royal Canin low fat gastrointestinal) and rutin for several weeks and it didn't work. Then had the surgery done - thoracic duct ligation and pericardiectomy. After many complications, we found that the surgery did not work.

Vet then implanted a pleural port. This is a device that goes under the skin and has a long tube attached that floats in the chest cavity. It allows you to drain the fluid at home rather than having repeated chest taps. She has tolerated this very well. Unfortunately, the port stopped working last week. Vet thinks that fibrin in the chest caused it to plug up. Had it replaced on Monday and will go from there.

Most vets have never seen a case of chylothorax and it is extremely frustrating. My dog is still happy, eating well, playful, etc and I'm not ready to lose her yet.

You might ask your vet about the pleural port - this one is from Norfolk Vet Products: http://www.norfolkvetproducts.com/pleuralport.html

It is a less invasive and less expensive surgery. It's not a cure but it may buy you some time. I wish you and all of us good luck with this!

[Henryluca]

Omg. This sounds like my story. Exactly to the tee.  Local vet. Best animal hospital in nyc for my boy Henry 81/2 years old golden doodle 24 k later and small fluid ( Cyle ) back.  Call me if you would like.  I am devastated and he acts like he is a pup still. But I have to go back in 1 month for another X-ray and pray like I do every day to God that he is cures. Today 10/27/14 we start a medication steroid to see if his body will help the Cyle build up.  Td ligation/ pericardectomy/ and partial lobectomy and pneumothorax and 10 days intensive care and I am still lost for words.  Call me if you want.  9177490777. Frank. I need a low diet and he is on 500mg of rutin 3 x day. I switched from raw diet to FROM dry and avengers wet.  Any advice for diets

[dakotah1975]

I've been reading your problem with your dog and it seems to me like you might want a second opinion. This vet may be the greatest but I think they keep wanting to do different tests which are extrememely costly. I think sometimes the vet has us in a corner and takes advantage of certain situations. I know mine does. I have a yellow lab Cera who has fluid around her heart. She's on three kinds of meds right now but still has laboured breath sometimes.we keep her calm and lots of love. I am going to get a second opinion on her because she was just sick with all mucous. I hope your "puppy" gets better and I know it would be very hard especially when you have lost one not so long ago. I think it comes down to as you said..we want to keep them but I do believe if you ask him and look into his eyes he will let you know when its time...fingers crossed.

[Dbabber]

Thank you everyone for sharing I feel relief that we're not alone in this. I have a 6 year old Frenchie. Her stomach was distended 2 weeks ago so we brought her to emergency care. She ended up having fluid around her lungs, in her abdomen, and around her heart. They said cancer and abnormal cells. They sent the lab work and kept her. Drained some fluid. Labs came back not cancer. We got her a EKG and ekcho and the cardiologist says nothing looks abnormal. She's back home now. She seems back to herself eating drinking pooping fine but over the last week her belly gets bloated depending on the time of day. We try to keep her on bed rest as much as possible.  I just don't know where to go from here? Should I look up a specialist? Bring her back to get more fluid drained? I don't know what to do I get scared that one day she'll have trouble breathing again. I'm just spending as much time as possible with my baby girl. Did anyone get a condition or a name I could look into for these symptoms? Thanks so much.

[richart6444]

OMG, I read every post here and Im ready to cry.  Great community.  My dog is only 3 years old and was just diagnosed with chylethorax a few days ago.  They drained his chest and that helped sooo much.  Ive spent over 3k in 10 days and they want another 9k to do a surgery which has like a 70% success rate with no guarantees.  I'm not sure what to do.  Besides that he's verrrrrry healthy and has always pretty much been on a low fat diet of kibble and home made turkey and vegis cooked in the crock pot, so I really don't know how to get him on a lower fat diet.  Dr. said his diet is great too.  Bought some Rutin ystrdy and am going to give that a try.  Im hoping for any kind of miracle.

[mil0426]

hi I am in exactly the same position as you are I have 9 year old German shepherd Sasha, and we went through all the tests, scans x rays you name she had it, now she is in intensive care at a vetenery hospital .she's had the operation 5 days ago and when you ring the vets they keep saying the same we will ***** her no change im heartbroken she went in on my birthday.do they get better after surgery.

[mil0426]

i have a 9 year old german shepherd with the same problems.they have done loads of tests,heart everything looking for cancer.and tested the cyle found nothing, she is in hospital now, she had the op on Friday. I am so worried hows your dog now

[Stacel7]

Hi my German shepherd had a condition where he had fluid round his heart and kept filling his stomach. They drained the fluid from his stomach 3 times then had to do surgery open his chest up and drain the fluid from round his heart. They told me he only had a 50/50 chance of survival of the op. he had that done when he was only a year old he is now 10 and is healthier than any dog I know

[climbasky]

I have a 12 year old soft coated wheaten terrier.  Difficulty breathing, no appetite.  Fluid in chest.  Did xrays and ultra sounds.  Tested his blood, urine, and the fluid which the vet drained from his chest.  Vet took out 3 1/2 cups fluid Thursday, and another 2 cups yesterday.  Tests indicate heart, kidneys, liver, intestines, are ok.  Awaiting results of culture.  Next step appears to be CT scan.  Vet thinks maybe a tumor, possibly cancer, in/around lungs...
I am still hoping it is a treatable condition..

[DLH9276]

After reading all of your post today I find that you a great people when it comes to loving your animals. I would first like to say that i am so sorry about the death of you family pets. I am writing this comment to ask your opinion of what you think of what i am about to say.My sister has a 3 year old chihuahua. I took her to my vet yesterday because for two weeks she has not ate or drank in almost 2 weeks and has a very hugh swollen stomach and its very hard. All she does is lay around, She use to be a very active dog. The vet gave her a heartworm test which was negative and checked her heart which he is now saying was a little weak. He said she is probably pregnant; however before he said that he said it was way to soon for her to become pregnant several times. He just sent us home. Well when my sister woke up this morning sissy was laying on the bedroom floor dead. Another dog which is also a chihuahua and is 6 years old was brought to the same vet at the same time. Her name is FeFe and she also had a very huge stomach where her vains are popping out and her chest is really swollen, she is painting very heavily. The vet said she had uti. Now how is he to know that if he never ran any test. He sent her home with antibiotics and there is no change at all. I just wanted to get ya'll opinion as to what i can do, because i know longer trust this vet. Thank You all so much for listening.

[ccubby45]

My dog Ives just had the surgery for cylothorax.  He is still on the Hills R/D food and Rutin.  His 2 week visit post surgery showed a small amount of fluid in the chest.  Follow up visit in a month.  I am not certain yet if this has worked, but he is 4 and i thought i needed to try.  After countless tapping of fluid, 2-3 days a part for 2 weeks, 3 ultrasounds , 2 blood test, and a CT scan to rule out cancer, I was told surgery would be his only best shot though the success rate is only 80-90%.  So I took a chance, yes, I have spent $10k.  How rapidly the vet bills grew going from my local vet to a specialist, since my local vet had never seen a case.  It is best to see a vet who has succsessfully treated cylothorax.  

So now after reading all the posts, I am not sure if this will work.  Guess it is really up to God and Ives.  I have done all I can.  And though he seems to have returned to his old self, how long this will last, remains to be seen.  

I did know if the cause was cancer, I would have put him down.  And I know if it comes back, I will need to do that too.  

I will keep you posted on his progress.

[mapleridgewalkers]

Thank you for giving information about your pets, sorry for your losses.  We are dealing with something in our 6 year old lab.  Likely the chylothorax if I am reading right in the early posts and remembering what the vet stated.

Our Banjo was getting extremely skinny and our son asked me to bring him to the vet.  The vet saw his heavy breathing and could not hear his lungs from the lower chest.  Xray's revealed fluid in the chest cavity.  Vet asked about injury where maybe he would have bleeding from a hernia.  We knew of none.  He drew a fluid sample and found no blood or infection but talked about the abnormal number of protons vs. neutrons etc and suspects lympho.... cancer.

He had us give the dog Predna and wants to try diaretics when the weather cools.  The Predna has brought Banjo back to life, per se.  He looks healthy, even chases a chipmunk or two.  We try to get him inside and cool him down asap as to not stress him out.  He still breathes heavy, but his weight gain has been almost immediate.  We are 12 days since diagnosis and have been feeding him anything and everything.  Mostly a mix of canned food with his dry food.  He eats all the time now, when at first he barely ate a couple tablespoons at a time.

Any thoughts for us and especially any thoughts on the diaretics?  I assume that will be an attempt to dry his fluids up.

[luvsmusic36]

I am going thru the same thing with my 8 year old Golden Retriever right now.  It just amazes me that they can do a 6 grand surgery to possibly repair it or alleviate it, but they can't come up with a $20 med.  
The rutin isnt working on my end and Montana will more then likely last a week if we are lucky.  They wanted to test for cancer too, but I wouldnt allow it.  What for?  If they can't fix this problem, what good does knowing he has cancer or not do us?  Nothing.  Very heartbroken.

[Doggy_Mama39]

Earlier this evening, we too had a family pet, (me & my 15 yr old son's Eniglish Bulldog "aka" Walter ) who was having difficulty breathing.You see Walter, my 8 and a half year old English Bulldog had just returned home the evening before this, having been at the Vet's since Wednesday evening for observation and prognosis of what appeared to be a very serious health emergency. His belly was so distended that the doctor told me, after she drained it (Saturday evening via the telephone) that she had drained 3 liters of fluid from his belly! He felt so much better aftewards. She was supposed to send him home with my sister with a bottle of heart pills because he'd had some arrythmia abnormalities, but for some strange reason she hadn't. I wonder if this is was inevitably led to his demise?  I got on here to read up on some of your stories to see if I could possibly find a solution for Walter's apparent discomfort. Would you believe that he actually died sometime between me calling up our family vet (who had left to bring us a 2 week supply of breathing medication) and searching up this site when Walter suddenly had a heart attack and died? When my vet got to the door, I said,"he's dead. Walter is dead." He said, " Now, as in just this very minute?" as I said sadly," yes, I believe he died just a few minutes ago since we last spoke." God are we sad...sigh* Walts been with our family now for 8 and a half years. My son is taking his death particularly hard being that Walter is one of our oldest dogs and well, he's made alot of history with him. I wanted to share the most amazing thing. Well, when my dog began to gasp for air, he panicked and walked to my son's bedroom door where he was tied with his harness and leash inside. My son heard him struggling for air and then he asked me to call the vet. In the interim my son gently carressed Walter's head and face, talking sweetly to him as he claims, "Walter layed down and seemed ok." I wen't in his room to check on Walt and when I stepped out and entered my bedroom my son and I both heard this huge "THUMP, BUMP, THUD." I said," Was that you?" as my son returns," No, your kidding, that must have been you." But we soon realized it was niether of us as we both quickly sprang into action with our cans of pepper spray in which to defeat an intruder. Now comes the "funny thing",  and believe me, this is not at all an easy thing to write. Perhaps it's half comforting for me to get on screen, but moreso the joy it brought me in the bitterest sence and comfort is the message I desired to share. It seems that my son had not yet noticed Walter's passing. He appeared to be sleeping at this point...as we returned downstairs realizing it must have been a false alarm, we returned to finishing my boy's homework atop my bed. Realizing that the vet would soon be arriving with Walt's breathing medication, my son decided to get up quick and check on Walter, a few seconds passed before my son began to scream, "Mom, mom! Come check Walter for me...I don't think he's breathing!" As I sprang into action, only to reach the very place we had last seen him resting a few short moments before we heard this bang sound that thundered through the walls. So after the vet arrived, within that same minute...I walked him downstairs to see if he could confirm what I'd already feared as true. He asked for a plastic bag to take his body in. Walt weighed about 45 lbs and his name was Walt after Walt Disney due to this natural marking in the shape of Mickey Mouse's head and ears on his right side in brundle. One big blue eye would stair at you in the most human of ways, while the other more craftily operating eye roved around for whatever mischievnous that it could spy. Just before the vet left I said," wait, let me see if my son wants to say goodbye to his dog." and well, that was not a success. He was in my room, door shut with a pillow stuffed into his face with tears soaking it. Next, I decided to get the two of my other dogs to say goodbye. Particularly "Mr. Bean" who was respectfully Walter's very best friend on this earth! That's when I saw it! What you may ask? Ok, I opened the bathroom door where Mr. Bean was asleep on his little green rug in the bathrrom. Mr. Bean is not an English Bulldog, but rather a 7 year old chinese pug. But, as I opened up the door I could see very clearly before me an entire drawer (weighing an easy 25 lbs filled with toiletries and nick knacks...just sitting off it's hinges on the floor. As shocking a sight that it truly was, I had not yet gotten the full, entirety of it's being there until a little after the vet left with Walter's body. I came downstairs and as I re-entered the bathroom, having forgotten what I'd see a little while earlier, Now I had the chills running up and down my bed and neck...as I said," honey (to my son) did you pull this drawer right out of it's track and onto the bathroom floor?" At this, no response was heard. So again, stating that the drawer was completely pulled out and off it's hingests and track and appeared to have been dropped  by some very strong force. We both realized this must have been the loud sound we'd noticed much earlier, right about the time Walter must have passed. We are the only two people living in this house and I know how that drawer operates....It has never once come off it's tracks. Infact, it would have had to of been tugged, jerked and pulled to such an extent, only to be dropped with such force, the walls would have shook (which explained the mysterious ruckus we'd heard  before). Anyways, just thought I'd share, I'm gonna go back to crying now with my kid. Thanks and God bless!      R.I.P. Walter Thornton, you were the greatest dog! Life won't be the same without you EVER AGAIN! Mommy, Harry, Lazarus, Bean and the birds love you too!

[johchadow]

I have a 5 year old White German Shepherd and just found out last weekend, after returning from 15 days vacation, that she had fluid around her heart and lungs also.  She was having difficulty breathing as her lungs were collapsed from the fluid.  They did x-rays but could not see much due to all the fluid and all of her organs were pushed out of place and they thought she had an enlarged liver at first but with an ultrasound they found that was not the case.  The diagnosis I got was mesothelioma but I'm skeptical of this because from what I have read it is caused by asbestos exposure and not diagnosable via ultrasound.  They drained off 3.5 liters of fluid and she has been a lot better after that but she is still not strong and not herself.  The vet told me to spoil her and that her days were numbered.  I don't know what to do next.  I will not put her (or me) through surgery/chemo (and the vet didn't think this was a good idea either) but I really don't even know for sure if it's cancer or something else.  If it is not cancer is it possible that it's something treatable or is it just a matter of time?

[royalmaki]

For everyone's interest, I have just uploaded a few pictures of Billy in my Profile, and they can be viewed by "everyone".  This is my 9-yr-old boy!

[royalmaki]

Sun_sh1ne, thanks for the support.  I will let Billy enjoy the time with us.  I decided not to take him to the vet anymore; he took the x-ray again yesterday, but nothing wrong shown another than the fluid pushing his lung aside.  

The cause is not important as I know it's not treatable or too big of a price to treat, so I rather Billy has good quality of life.

[sun_sh1ne]

Hi Royal Maki,

I know it's tough - Siefer too turned 9 in March.. well would have.. so due to age - I didn't want him to suffer.

You will do best for Billy and you love him so much which is a gift in itself.  Not sure if you saw my pics above... but I threw a farewelll party for Siefer the day before his time.. and he had so much fun.

The fluid in the chest is so horrible... and I know what you are going through and sense your pain and heartache... as my vet said, it's almost like drowning...

I know the choices you have to make are super tough, and you are right, unless a miracle happens, there is no point in spending money.. but it isn't about money I know..

I wish you all the best and hugs through this tough time and multiple hugs to Billy!!

[royalmaki]

Billy is a 9-year-old doxie. In fact, he will be 10 next month.

Billy has an vet appointment tomorrow for chest x-ray again... but the lasix seems not working well since 2 days ago, and the fluid came back so fast (faster than I can imagine)... I am still struggle whether to go or not...if the x-ray comes out to be not clear again: waste money and billy has to suffer; if the x-ray comes out clear and find the mass, I don't think I will let Billy take the risk for an open chest operation!  But if I just sit at home with him, his situation for sure won't get better unless miracle happens..

[sun_sh1ne]

Oh Maggie - that is horrible - I'm sorry for your loss.  I didn't realize this was so common because the vets kept telling me it rarely happens - but I sometimes think that he did that just to squeeze all the money he could out of me.

With Chylothorax - seems to be only two kinds, the idiopathic kind, which is non cancerous and with supplement treatment - and drainage eventually goes away - but that seems to only be successful in cats?

Than there is the cancerous one, that even the surgery alone, seems high risk, only 50% chance... due to the location.. so close to the heart/lungs.

That was under my understanding.  As sad as it sounds Maggie, the chances are so slim, and it's a tough choice, but our puppies are no longer suffering.  I can't imagine feeling the way they do.

RoyalMaki - your situation sounds just like mine.  Siefer started getting diahrea, losing weight, breathing heavy and then his hair definitely went from super super shiny to dull and flakey.  The fluid comes back super quick, the first time they drained 2 litres from his chest... that is so much :(.  He too ate quite well but you could tell he couldn't stomach it as much as before.  He also loves to go offleash and chase his stick (you can see the pictures above) - but can't last long as before... breaks my heart.

Dogs have extreme pain threshold.... sometimes I wish they can talk.

As the week went on for Siefer.. his breathing got heavier.. he couldn't sleep through the night.. always moaning and moving due to the fluid pressure.. and on top... the last two days before his last day.. there were gurgling sounds when he breathed and I know that is NOT a good sign.

Although his last day was full of yummies and playtime.. I still miss him tons.

If you need to talk, I'm here for you.

If you do have the money to go ahead with the CT Scan, you can do it... but this is what hubby and I talked about... if the supplements didn't work and the draining keeps coming back AND the CT Scan revealed cancer.. would I be able to put Siefer through a 50% surgery to remove the cancerous cells or Chemo?

Depending on the age of your dog RoyalMaki - I think they will be blessed with whatever choice you make :)  I know you will make it for the for your puppy!