chylothorax? Anyone with any experience

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jennifer & korbel (GA)

jennifer & korbel (GA)

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So, it goes from bad to worse again....
When I went home at lunch, I noticed Calypso was having labored breathing with open mouth breathing. So, off to our normal vet. They put her in an O2 chamber then took some x-rays, massive fluid buildup in her chest. They drained almost 200mls of chlye out of her.
She is still at the vet in the O2 chamber. We're waiting to see if the fluid comes back quickly (I'll go back in a few hours). Either way it is a bad prognosis. She has a catheter in her foreleg, so if I do take her home they will send me home with euthanasia solution just in case she has another crisis....
 
Sorry to see this.

The one cat we had with it - they did an exploratory surgery - it turned out her intestinal tract had basically dissolved for some unknown reason. I let her go while she was under anesthesia.
 
I lost my Moe to it many years ago- it came on suddenly, and within 2 wks the fluid was returning so quickly that it was either put in full time chest tubes or say goodbye. He loathed the vet and being handled, so I had to let him go. I am so very sorry you are facing it with Calypso, it is truly an evil disease...
 
Jennifer, prayers are coming for Calypso and I am so saddened to read it is chylothorax. Even if you have the solution available, you may not be around or awake if she runs into another crisis. My heart goes out to you because you may have to make a decision without wanting to and not knowing if there even is a chance she can pull through this.
 
how long would the draining work for before you needed it done again? I'm concerned about working and the upcoming holiday weekend not having a vet, even if I have the stuff on hand, I'd rather have a vet do it....
 
I have her home with me. They took another xray and she still has fluid but nothing obviously worse than when they drained it.
They gave me a syringe full of the euthanasia meds in case she goes into crisis overnight-I really hope I can make the right decision if it comes to that, I don't want her to suffer.
I talked to her cancer vet, and assuming she makes it through the night I am taking her in tomorrow am. The best case scenario is that the leukemia has turned into a lymphoma.
The vet tech at the clinic said one of her cats had it and the fluid was back within 16hrs.....
 
Jennifer I'm sorry to hear this. Chylothorax is usually idiopathic, but sometimes caused by congestive heart failure. Has your cat had an echocardiogram?

jennifer & korbel (GA) said:
She has a catheter in her foreleg, so if I do take her home they will send me home with euthanasia solution just in case she has another crisis....
Click to expand...

I'm honestly horrified that they would do this. Seriously? Give you a syringe full of euthasol and have you euthanize your own cat at home with an IV you hope is still in place? A cat who is building up fluid in her chest would have a slow increase in trouble breathing -- there would be time to get her medical treatment. Is there a 24 hour facility in your area that could watch her overnight?

If she is not in congestive heart failure and does have idiopathic chylothorax, she may need several chest taps before she stabilizes (if she stabilizes). It's hard to tell. If you think about it tonight and decide that this is something that you don't want to wait out, because of her concurrent disease, then it would be best to let her go in a medical facility before she has more trouble breathing, so she doesn't experience another episode of breathing trouble.

I'm sorry, I can't believe they sent you home with a syringe of euthasol. It's inappropriate (medically and legally) and it's a horrible burden to put upon you.
 
Jess, they actually asked me if I would be comfortable with that and I said yes. The closest ER vet is about 1hr away-that's a long time if you are in respiratory distress. I actually was involved in respiratory research for many years and unfortunately euthanised many animals during that time. I know it's very different when it's your own pet, but I have done it and they are aware of that. If the catheter falls out, then I won't have that option.
If she goes into crisis mode and I have time to get her to a vet I will. I really don't want to see her suffer, so if she is deep stomach open mouth breathing, and I can't get her somewhere in time, I will do what I need to. I don't want to leave her overnight somewhere because she gets extreme cage anxiety, and frankly if something happened and I wasn't there, I would never forgive myself.
She hasn't had an echo. From speaking to the different vets our best hope is that the leukemia has been joined by a lymphoma. I'll see her oncologist tomorrow morning and make any decisions then. Honestly if I'm not going to do anything for her, I don't want to wait until her next crisis. I've always said with my critters, if forced to chose, I'd rather go too soon than too late.
 
She came through the night without any issues.
She's obviously uncomfortable, but no signs of labored breathing.
I'll take her to get an ultrasound at the oncologist and see what she has to say.
I'll decide what to do then.
 
Dearest Jennifer,

Keeping you and your precious Calypso close in my heart and hopeful thoughts and prayers.

Wishing you strength knowing how much you love her... Wishing you peace with whatever decision you make on her behalf...

I so feel for you, Jennifer.

Much love and countless hugs for you and your darling Calypso,
Deb and Nikki -- and, Giz, forever whispering in my heart...
 
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