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Fluid in my dogs chest cavity
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!
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!
My dog also had fluid in his chest, plus diarrhea, weight loss and dull hair. The vet gave him lasix to drain the fluid and it worked very well in the first week, but then the water comes back in the second week..
X-ray couldn't show his lung and heart at all..vet suggested CT scan, because he believes 99% chance of cancer in the chest.
Billy still has very good appetite and wants to play (but lack of strength)...
X-ray couldn't show his lung and heart at all..vet suggested CT scan, because he believes 99% chance of cancer in the chest.
Billy still has very good appetite and wants to play (but lack of strength)...
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!
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!
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..
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..
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!!
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!!
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.
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.
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