Chylothorax

[Catsnclay]

Greeting everyone! We just went throught a very bad week. My middle "baby" Lucky was diagnoised with Chylothorax. Has anyone here ever come across this? I've looked it up and found some very good information on this subject, but have never heard of anyone ever having this.

Any input would be helpful. Lucky is MUCH better and improving daily. This wasn't the case a week ago.......I think I shed enough tears to last me a life time. I am just glad that he is better and ALIVE!!:)

P.S. I come to this forum often and read and check out the "Cat of the Day" just never posted before. You all seem like a nice group. Hope to get to know some of you!
Bunny

[Nomilynn]

My cat Bassett has idiopathic chylothorax :) There are a couple of thread in Cat Health about Bassett and her condition. I would be happy to share any info with you. PM me any time and we'll chat :)

Here are some links to the threads I first posted about her:

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19687&highlight=Bassett

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19763&highlight=Bassett

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20991&highlight=Bassett

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21240&highlight=Bassett

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21548&highlight=Bassett

They should be in the order of the progression of her disease :)

[NoahsMommy]

Poor Lucky! I'll be praying for a quick healing for him.

I never heard of Chylthorax until Nomilynn's Bassett had it.

Welcome to Pet Talk! :)

[krazyaboutkatz]

Welcome to Pet Talk Bunny. I'm sure you'll love it here. :) I'm so sorry to hear that your kitty was so sick. :( I had never heard of this condition before either until Nomilynn's cat Bassett was diagnosed with a form of it. I sure hope that your cat Lucky will live up to his name and will be able to live a long happy and healthy life. :)

[HayleyRosie]

So sorry to hear that your cat Lucky is not feeling well. I didn't hear of Chylothorax untill I read about Naomi's Bassett. I'm sending prayers in hope that Lucky will be better soon.

P.S. Welcome to PT!

[Catsnclay]

Wow....Nomilynn! Lucky was almost exactly like Bassett! I too thought hairballs and waited on the Vet visit. When she walked into the room, saw his breathing, her face dropped and I knew something was desperatly wrong! She sent me immediatly to the ER Clinic and of course I cried the whole way there! My husband works an hour away from home, so by the time he got to the clinic I was a total mess. Our progonosis was grim.......they made us sign a CPR form as we left for the night and were only giving him a 50% chance. That alone sent me over the edge! I don't think I slept for the next few days.

It is one week later (and lots of $$$) but Lucky is doing MUCH better! :) They are also calling Lucky's Idiopathic......I'm still trying to figure out what happened!! He has always been a indoor kitty, so I have no idea what or how it happened.

Although I don't wish this on anyone, I am glad I found you! I know exactly what you went through. By the way, I thought your father did a wonderful thing for you. My father is not a animal person and told me to stop crying and act like an adult, "its only a cat!"-------:mad: Don't even get me started on that subject!!

I think me & my boys have found some new friends!! :D :)

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Welcome to Pet Talk Catsnclay! I'm so glad to hear Lucky is doing so much better, and I'm glad you found Naomi for support.

Hopefully we'll get to hear a lot more about Lucky and any brothers/sisters he might have, and pictures are always appreciated. ;) :D

[Nomilynn]

Catsnclay - is your kitty taking Rutin now? Bassett's taking the Rutin and it seems to be working. She hasn't had a chest drain in almost a month. How much fluid did they take from Lucky? Has he only had one draining?

[Catsnclay]

Yes as a matter of fact he is taking Rutin......how are you giving it to Bassett?? Lucky is really smart and will not take it with baby food, and sometimes won't take it when I mix it in with his wet food. I really hate to pop the pill down his throat, he REALLY hates taking pills!! :eek:

He only had one chest drain and they took 1 1/2 cups of fluid. Lucky is 18 lbs, and pretty big, but that was still a lot of fluid! He is a medium hair, and they shaved part of his belly for the tap and a larger part when they did the ultrasound, so he has a really strange" belly hair-cut" right now!

[Nomilynn]

Hehehe Bassett has patches on both sides of her tummy right now. They are slowly growing back, but there is a pretty significant "dent" in the fur!! :D I do have a couple of pictures with her new do, so I will scan them later on tonight :)

Bassett gets 1500mg (I think it's mg???) a day, and I put them down her throat. It's the only way she will take them, and because I know it's for her own good I don't feel too bad :D She also takes Forticor, a half tab a day, for hypertension and an antidepressant. She has a behavioural problem that's not related to the chylothorax :rolleyes: She's a little piddlepuss :D In total, she takes 5 pills a day :( I give them to her all at once so it's only a brief moment of yuck rather than several moments throughout the day :) Luckily, the Rutin doesn't have much taste.

It sounds like you have read the threads I posted, so you already know how much fluid came out of Bassett. She is 14.5lbs - another big kitty! :)

Right now, we are just waiting it out. If my vet recommends it, I'm willing to try the surgery option. However, for right now, we blessfully haven't needed it! :)

Do you have any pictures of Lucky! Who, I might add, is living up to his name!! :) We would all love to see him :)

[lynnestankard]

WELCOME Catsnclay - glad you joined us.
Again I'm another one who'd never heard of Chylothorax until poor Naomi's Bassett went down with it.
I'm keeping fingers crossed for Lucky - at least the fur will grow back soon.
Oh and the one thing you NEVER hear here us 'Don't be upset it's only a...............' - that is just too cruel.

Lynne

[K & L]

I received this note last night from Catsnclay (Bunny):

This has been a tough week, for all of us. We brought Lucky back to the Vets on Monday because of his breathing and after 4 different try's they were unable to get any fluid from his chest. From the x-rays that were taken there was more fluid build up. They didn't do anything more, and sent him home. I noticed on Thursday morning that he wasn't getting out of bed, he had to be coaxed to come to breakfast, and then didn't eat any. He then
slept in his box all day long. I still didn't like the way he was
breathing so back he went. They took another x-ray and there was even more of a fluid build-up. This time though they made me go back to the Emergency Animal Clinic. Apparently when they tapped his chest on Monday, they just went in "blindly". The clinic goes in with the help of a ultrasound, as to get the correct spot.

At the clinic I was told that they were going to put a chest tube in, he was tapped too many times to just do it again. Naturally there are problems that could arise. Since he was pretty stressed to begin with there was always the possibility that he could suffer from cardiac arrest while they were putting the tube in. His blood pressure and breathing rate were very high. Then again I was reminded that just because the fluid would be
drained, doesn't mean the problem was solved. I was told to consider other alternatives...............(putting him down). With this chest tube he would be in the EAC at least until Saturday.

We got a call from Dr. Barker around 8:00 pm on Thursday......the tube went in well, no problems. They gave him a sedative since he was still stressing. He was able to get through to both of the chest cavities and they drained a pint & a half of fluid from him! The first time one and 1/2 a cup was drained. They have him in a oxygen tent for the night, hooked up to I.V's and will drain him every 4 hours. Now the hard part. If they continue to draw a lot of fluid from him regularly, that is not a good sign. If they do not get a lot of fluid, that of course is better. Only time will tell right now, I will be going to see him tomorrow. I just hope he has a
good night and he will be getting better. He has a birthday coming up next week (April 1). I sure would love to have him home and healthy for his birthday.

[Logan]

Thank you for the update. We will definitely be praying for good news from Lucky.

Logan

[lynnestankard]

Oh how sad for dear Lucky - Prayers and Crossed Paws must be the order of the day - hope he pulls through - c'mon Lucky - be a strong boy for your Meowmie - {{{Hugs}}}} to you all.

Lynne

[catmandu]

We at the lost cats hotel send our prayers and best wishes to Lucky , and hope that the Big fellow can gome home soon.

[HayleyRosie]

I will be praying for Lucky. Hopefully he will be spending his birthday home with you. Keep us posted.

[slick]

Poor Lucky! I sure hope he gets better soon. Hugs and prayers coming your way. Keep us posted.

[jenluckenbach]

A belated welcome to Catsnclay. Add me to those who knew nothing of this disease. But I wish Lucky all the best.. Prayers and HUGS going out to the bothe of you.
It is good that you found Naomi. It is like any support group, it is always better when you've both been down the same road. But the reast of us will be here for you as well.

[Catsnclay]

Thanks to all of you for your support, we really need it. And a big THANK YOU to my good friend, Lisa (K&L) without her support I don't know what I'd do!!:)

I just talked with the doctors at the clinic and its not very good news. After the initial tap, they have gone back every 4 hours and there has been more build up each time. They just tapped him before I called, and they pulled about a half a cup. We will have to make some sort of decision by tomorrow. :( :(

Sorry, but I can't type any more.........

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear Lucky's not doing well. :(

We'll be hoping and praying all night that he makes a turn-around and things look better in the morning. Come on Lucky, you can do it!

[jenluckenbach]

I feel so bad that you have to go through this. It is so hard when your little baby is hurting. But Bassett went through some real bad times too, and she is doing well now, so do not give up hope.
{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so sorry to hear that Lucky isn't doing very well. :( Prayers are on the way. Please pull through Lucky. We're all rooting for you. {{{HUGS}}}

[NoahsMommy]

:( :( I'm so sorry you and Lucky are having to deal with this. :( Prayers being sent for you and Lucky.

God Bless.

[Nomilynn]

I just send you a PM. I'm so sorry you are dealing with this :(

[Steffi N]

Oh this is so sad. Please pull through Lucky. Please.

[K & L]

They're taking Lucky to a specialist today! Let's all keep our fingers crossed they can do something for him. Bunny let us know how it goes. We're all thinking of you!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Prayers are on the way for sweet Lucky.

[Nomilynn]

I hope Lucky does really well at the specialist!

[Catsnclay]

Gosh guys......all your thoughts and prayers seem to be working!! :) :D Lucky was transferred today to another hospital.....clear across town (75 miles away to be exact!) He is seeing a Internist now, and they did a Echo on him.......good news is he does NOT have: a heart problem, cancer or a tumor!! :) Bad news: he still has fluid in his body. But.....now the fluid coming out is different then the fluid that first came out. They are thinking it might be an infection from the chest tube that has been in since Thursday. They are going to give him antibiotics and take out the tube tomorrow. If he does well without the tube (big-time prayers needed now!) he can come home :D . We are going on 4 weeks of this and we are very stressed as you can imagine. Hopefully we have the correct doctors working on this, and they will clear it up. At this time they are saying that medication is the way to go....no surgery!!

I know I'm new here and you all don't know us very well, but I really want to thank you for all the support you have given us so far....it has really, really helped. I will get some pictures up soon of Lucky and his brothers, Fluffy & Yoshi. Again.......thanks everyone.....you are the greatest!! :) :D

[krazyaboutkatz]

This is wonderful news!!:D I sure hope that he gets to go home soon and that his problem can be cured with medicine. Prayers are still on the way for sweet Lucky. BTW when I was growing up my family dog was also named Lucky. :)

[jenluckenbach]

Come on Lucky, keep the good news coming. I know that you can make it through!

i must have missed this thread... SORRY!!

First of all, WELCOME TO PETTALK !!!!

I'm so sorry for poor Lucky:( . But He will manage!! Bassett also is much better now, so I will be praying for your sweetheart from now one! Good luck to you, Lucky!!

http://www.xmission.com/~emailbox/clipart/redcross.gif

[Barbara]

All fingers and paws here are crossed for you Lucky. You'll make it:) :)

[Catsnclay]

Well, Lucky has been home now for 24 hours and seems to be doing fairly well! The very first thing he did when he got home was run to the food dish! :D He's been eating like a little pig ever since! We are still in the "guarded" condition and the longer he goes without any problems, well the better off he is. So we are still keeping our fingers crossed and our breath's held.

He will be on medication for the rest of his life, and I believe that he realizes this.....when its pill time he no longer fights me. I too have gotten better with it, the piller they gave me works like a charm and I am more comfortable doing it. :p

We are SOOOOO happy to have our Lucky baby home. I've been sleeping a whole lot better with him by my side :) :)

Thanks everyone, what ever you all did, worked!! Lucky is home and getting back to normal.......YIPPEE!!!!!

[HayleyRosie]

I am so happy that you have Lucky home with you. Will continue to pray that his condition stays the way it is now and that you will be able to enjoy his company for many more years to come.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

That's wonderful news! I'm so glad everything worked out so well with Lucky. He certainly is one lucky kitty. :)

Can you please give him some hugs and scritchies from me for being such a good kitty through all this? :)

[jenluckenbach]

I just love good news.:)

[Nomilynn]

This news is bringing tears to my eyes, I'm so happy! Yay! I think Bassett and Lucky are long lost soul mates :) This is just really great.

What kind of food do you have him on now? I'm just curious, because Bassett has to be on a very strict diet without a lot of fat.

Wow.. this is really good news :)

[Catsnclay]

They haven't told me of any special diets to put him on, although he has been on Science Diet Light, and they did ask that question. So, I guess that is fine. He will be on the Rutin for the rest of his life, and possibly the diauretic, but that is a wait & see type thing. He is also on antibiotic's, but that too is only temporary.

He just purr's & purr's everytime someone comes near him. And he's been following me around the house, can't let me out of his site.....which is perfectly fine with me!! Every time I sit or lay down to sleep there is at least 1 out of 3 kitties on or around me!! :) :D Oh yeah, they also have to sit on my lap when I'm in the bathroom......:rolleyes: Do all cat's do that or just mine??!! :) :rolleyes:

[Prairie Purrs]

Originally posted by Catsnclay
Oh yeah, they also have to sit on my lap when I'm in the bathroom......:rolleyes: Do all cat's do that or just mine??!! :) :rolleyes:

Before he found a permanent (and very happy) home, Angel's littermate Riley used to run into the bathroom and fly into my lap. One day he mistimed it--I had raised the lid but hadn't sat down. Whoops! Wet cat! :D

I'm so glad that Lucky's doing well. Sounds like he's really happy to be home! :D :D

[krazyaboutkatz]

Way to go Lucky!!! :D I'm so glad to hear that he's at home now and doing well. :D

[bryon]

I am so happy for Lucky. I hope I have as good a luck with my cat but just not sure. Waiting for fluid analysis to c ome back. Baby Jane keeps pacing around. She is scheduled for an ultra sound on friday. I hope she makes it till then so they will be ble to find out what is causing this fluid build up. I have been feeding her with a syringe which she hates. I have to wrap her in a towel to keep her paws down. Try to only give her 2 or 3 syringes full at a time and then give her more 1/2 to 1 hour later. I know she hates it. I don't like it either.

HOpefully Lucky will continue to have good luck and stay well.

Bryon in NYC

[Catsnclay]

Welcome to PT Bryon! I'm sorry to see that another kitty may have chylothrax.......for a "rare" disease we certianly have seen our fair share of it.

If you have any questions feel free to ask or PM me. Please tell us more about Baby Jane....pictures, too!!