Overhydration, fluid in lungs

Status
Not open for further replies.
allie and newkitty

allie and newkitty

Active Member
Newkitty's xray shows fluid in her lungs and her blood work shows an infection. She coughed immediately after fluids last week and has been walking with her elbows out (I did not know that was a sign of breathing trouble). Her heart rate was 160, bp fine, no murmur, heart was normal looking on the xray so I will go back in a week and see about whether she needs a cardiologist. She got a shot of Lasix and one of Baytril and pills of both to take home.

I am very worried. Never dealt with something like this before. She has not had fluids in a week. In the last couple days she has been going up and down the stairs when I am not here (she normally waits until I am home and has me tote her) and her appetite has been excellent for the past six months, so much so that I took her off cypro (which she has been on since 2005).

Anyone have experience with this?
 
In a healthy cat it is almost impossible to get fluid in the lungs via subQ fluids. I suspect an underlying problem. My Mitten had congestive heart failure and was on lasix and it helped.
 
Underlying problem like CHF or anything else? Her heart looked normal on the xray. I know we will need an echo but all her heart vitals were ok. :(
 
When Merlyn was diagnosed he had pulmonary edema. I have been googling and other causes of PE are anemia, pneumonia, cardiomyopathy, too little protein in blood, toxins (smoke, snake venom), obstuction of airway, near drowning. Oh, and ruling out heartworm.
 
Hi Allie

I'm sorry to hear that NK's not been feeling well. Do you have a digital copy of the x-rays? Cat x-rays of the chest are hard to read, and there is sometimes confusion in diagnosing pulmonary edema.

Coughing is really not a sign of heart failure in cats. It is the classic sign in dogs, but in cats a cough is often something else. I don't know why it was associated with the SQ fluids with NK; do you warm the fluids or give them room temp? Regardless if you put fluids in the SQ space, it physically cannot whip around and soak the lungs in a matter of minutes.

I would go to see the cardiologist asap to rule out a heart problem, and make sure to bring the x-rays with you so s/he can look at them to decide CHF or no. Please keep us posted ok?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top