chylothorax??

[ozzlou]

hi everyone,

i'm new, and wondering if anyone has had any experience with chylothorax?
my 2 yr old cat was diagnosed with this recently, and i want to know what i might expect.

from what i do know, it is a build up of fluid-"chyme" in the pleural cavity in the lungs. if the pleural sac is too full of fluid- he can't take a breath, and can end up dying from it. or it can just go away.
when he was first diagnosed- we thought he had asthma, so the vet wanted to take an xray to make sure...his lungs were barely visable ther was so much fluid there...they tapped his lungs, and got 300cc's of fluid! (more than a soda can). i dunno how he made it that long!

he coughs a lot. i listen to his lungs everyday. i find myself sleeping with one eye open, worrying with every move he makes, but knowing i can't do anything to help him. he does take medicine, but the vet said most don't really respond to it.

i know clinically what this illness means, but i'd love to hear from someone who might know from personal experience.
i appreciate any stories, coping skills, advice...whatever. i'm feeling a bit helpless.

thanks in advance!
ozzlou

[slick]

Welcome to PT. We all care about each other here. Nomilynn can give you some great advice as her kitty Bassett has the same thing I think. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

[K & L]

So can Catnclay. She had a topic in the Cat - General, I believe, on this. Good luck!

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22941&highlight=catsnclay

[ozzlou]

hi,
thanks for showing me that thread-
i read the whole thing- sounds familiar.

i'm eager to exchange stories...

take care-
ozzlou

[Nomilynn]

Hi :)

Yes, my kitty Bassett has chylothorax. The fluid is actually called chyle, and it's a fatty fluid that is usally contained in the thorasic duct. In the link already posted, I provided all the links to Bassett's continuing story. Bassett is responding beautifully with the meds.

If you want to chat, PM me. If you have MSN, ICQ or AIM I can add you to my lists, too :)

[Catsnclay]

Hi Ozzlou!
Wow, I just went through this with Lucky! It is very frightening and I just had to chuckle on your post. I too slept with one eye open for a month, checked his breathing every five minutes.....glad to hear someone else is just like me! ;)

Nomilynn was such a BIG help, she went through it with her Bassett eairler this year. Between the 2 of us we will get you through this.

Lucky has been on: Furosemide, Baytril and Rutin. From what I understand he will be on the Rutin for the rest of his life.

You can also reach me through a Personal Message or if you check under my profile, my e-mail.

Good luck, and we are here for you!

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Wow, I can't believe another kitty has this! Seems really rare, and now we have 3 cases here on PT! :eek:

Welcome to PT, Ozzlou. I know you'll get a lot of good information from Nomilyn and Catsnclay. :)

[ozzlou]

thanks for the welcome...
ozzy and i are on our way to the vet, to see if he needs to be tapped. i hate to do this to him...
i hate this.
ozzlou

[Nomilynn]

Originally posted by ozzlou
thanks for the welcome...
ozzy and i are on our way to the vet, to see if he needs to be tapped. i hate to do this to him...
i hate this.
ozzlou

Oh no!!!! I hope everything is ok! :(

[Catsnclay]

Uh oh.......keep us posted!

[slick]

Waiting to hear some good news.....

[ozzlou]

the vet is right up the street...
she tapped ozzy for 90cc's. he was having a lot of coughing spells that i didn't like the sound of...
i love my vet- she's as frustrated as i am.

so, we're ok for now...in fact he should feel a bit better, being able to breathe easier and all.

take care
ozzlou

[slick]

Great news. Let's hope it stays that way.

[ozzlou]

amen, slick!!!!

ozzlou & ozzy

[Catsnclay]

Well good news on my end, and hopefully for you too. Lucky is doing just fine, according to the vet! :) :D :)

There is still a tiny bit of fluid, but nothing to worry about at this time. He still has to stay on his Rutin and now a different diuretic, but other than that he doesn't need to bee seen for 6 months!!

Ozzlou, if you want my vet's e-mail for your vet, just PM me and let me know. Maybe if they communicate they can come up with a solution for Ozzy.

[ozzlou]

hi,
i'm so glad to hear lucky is doing well!:)

i spoke with my vet, she seems to have a pretty good handle on things right now. unfortunately, different cats will respond to treatment differently...ozzy is on rutin, and has been for a lil over a month. his heart is good- so he doesn't require lasix at this point.

that's why this is all so frustrating...who knows when it will go away...there's is nothing more to do for our animal friends- but manage the symptoms. which means i have to monitor when ozzy coughs, and take him in when it's too much. according to my vet, there is no proof that rutin works- but its the only thing that might help. if it does - great!! if not, no further harm done.

tonight, he's been playing with his brothers, so i think i can safely say he's feeling a bit better after being tapped.

so...sleeping with one eye open continues...:(

take care-
ozzlou

[Nomilynn]

I think we can use Bassett as proof that Rutin works.. she's done so well since being on it. Since there are no side effects, I'm not going to "test" it and take her off to see what happens!!! :eek:

It's great to know all our chylo-babies are doing better :)

[Catsnclay]

Yeah, I think Lucky is proof that the Rutin works too! I hope it works for Ozzy :)

LOL, I think I still sleep with one eye open! I know my ears are always hearing......I think I hear everything at night. Sometimes that's good, and other times its not!! :o

Keep us posted with Ozzy.

[ozzlou]

hi.

i think when my vet says there's no proof rutin works, she referring to clinical trials...like we know motrin is an anti inflammatory, cuz everyone has that result. i'm counting on it working, myself.

you won't see me taking him off the rutin anytime...i wonder if the difference is that his has to be in liquid form...he's so stubborn he won't take pills. last time there was a pill offered to him- it took 2 vet techs and the vet to try and shoot it down his throat, and he still spit it out...lil stinker.

i'm glad that bassett and lucky are doing well...it makes me optpmistic. ozz coughed once last night, i wasn't home for a while- so i'm hoping he was ok today.
his spirits seem to be good, so i think the tap did him well.
i'll just keep praying!

thanks for checking in, guys.
ozzlou

[IttyBittyKitty]

That's so awful! I hope that all three of PT's chylo kitties are doing well, especially Ozzy! I can't believe they took so much fluid out of his lungs, the poor thing :( ... he is lucky to have such a good Mum like you - there are so many disgusting people out there who would abandon a sick kitty because it is "too much trouble" :(

[slick]

How is Ozz today??

[ozzlou]

hi slick,
thanks for asking.
on weekends, i work 12 hr shifts...so i don't really know how his whole day went.
i do know that last night he had a coughing spell, and unless i'm totally paraniod (quite possible:confused: ) it sounded like a harder cough than usual. the spell seemed to last longer too.
he greeted me when i got home this eve...and he gobbled up his medicine...so he seems fine.
in fact- between coughing fits- he seems like a perfectly happy kitty, who loves to play with his brother.
i guess i should be thankful for that.

thanks for asking.
ozzlou

[slick]

Be thankful for small mercies, I say. I think if I were in your shoes I'd be soooo paranoid. If my kitty had coughing spells, I go nuts! I'm really praying hard that things improve for you and that the medication works. Please give Ozz kisses from me.

[ozzlou]

well...
we're off to the vet again today....
i made an appt for 3pm...to get an xray, and possibly tap him.
he's been coughing too much, and i don't like the sound of it.

paranoid?
definately...
frustrated??
hell yeah.

:(

ozzlou

[Catsnclay]

Keep your chin up! I know this is frustrating, but unfortunetly we have to go through it.

Let us know what happened at the Vet's...........

Lucky had a coughing fit last night too, needless to say just as I was beginning to sleep with both eyes closed! :( Hope its nothing here, hopefully just allergies. But that's what we all thought in the beginning.

Good luck.......

[ozzlou]

hi,

i hate that you're going through this too...but glad i have someone who knows the total and utter frustration.

they tapped 150cc's off his lungs today. that makes 240cc's total, including last week. we're going to try some theophyline, to see if it will help with his breathing. i prolly spelled it wrong- but its a bronchodilator, and may improve his lung capacity. i'm praying really really hard that it helps.

praying really, really, really, really, really hard for all of our kitties.

take care,
ozzlou

[slick]

Praying really really really and really hard here too. Please get well Ozzy!!

[ozzlou]

thanks for the prayers...keep them coming.

ozzy was just tapped yesterday, and is already coughing today.
the idea is, that if he was just tapped, he should have no reason for coughing...

:(

take care
ozzlou

[K & L]

CatsnClay...how's Lucky?

Ozzlou...How's your cat?

[Nomilynn]

Yes, how are the other babes doing? I was noticing today how well Bassett is doing.. she is playing a lot more which is something she hasn't done in years.

I pray for your kids every day.. I hope they are doing well

[ozzlou]

i was just telling my friend...

i'm so scared to say that all is well so far. ozzy has only coughed once since he got tapped- which is a big improvement!

please keep praying- cuz it is obviously working!

how's lucky? anymore coughing for him?

take care-
ozzlou

[Catsnclay]

Yes, but it only seems at night :rolleyes: and its not every night. Once again I'm sleeping with that one eye open!

I've also noticed that Lucky is playing like a little kitty again. He is so full of life and spirit.......too much though! Yoshi & Fluffy sometimes have to put him in line when he wants to play and they don't!

I'm not too worried right now about the coughing, but if it continues I will have it checked out.

We also started him on the new diuretic this week.

Sure hope Ozzy is well........

[Steffi N]

It's wonderful that Lucky and Bassett are playing again and I hope that Ozzy will start playing too. I hope all three kitties continue to hold their illness in check and feel well.

[ozzlou]

ozzy has been coughing all night long...
and now i have to go do a 12 hr shift!!!!!!!!!!!!

:( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(

ozzlou

[Nomilynn]

:( :(

Are you dropping him off at the vet for a tapping? I'm so sorry he hasn't stopped coughing yet :(

Ozzy - PLEASE get better!!!!

[ozzlou]

hi...
i had to go to work before the vet is there...but i called her.

she's going to consult with a specialist, and get back to me. for now- he's ok...but we'll see what happens overnight.
he is breathing ok...doesn't seem to be distressed- so far coughing is his only symptom. but history dictates, that increased coughing for him, means he's filling up.

my boss is very sympathetic, she is also a cat lover...but she's very concerned with my financial situation. every time i talk to her, i just dropped $100 at the vets...she tried approaching the subject of me giving up on ozzy- not to be mean, but looking out for my financial well-being. i told her that would not be an option for me...if he can get better- i will keep trying...so far he is not suffering at all- he's happy and plays all the time...he's only 2 yrs old. until that changes- i will not give up on him.

instead of one eye open...i think i'll just be skipping the whole sleep thing all together.

ozzlou

[Catsnclay]

Its been awhile...........how are things going over there?? :confused:

[ozzlou]

hi,

things aren't going too well, thanks for asking.

ozzy got tapped again on tuesday for 165cc's. the vet mentioned the surgery, but we're trying prednisone first.
my hope is running thin, i'm afraid to say.

as for the surgery, it sounds like there is a chance it will work- but the vet said it can cost between $1200, and $2000. i just don't have it. if i had a guarantee that it would work- i'd find a way...but i'd hate to put him through it, and have it not work.

he still coughs. i'm trying to limit his activity...i heard that rest may help- but i dunno anymore.

i just keep praying.

ozzlou

[slick]

Thanks for the update. I was wondering myself how things were going. Prayers on the way. You must be between a rock and hard place. What a dilema. I really hope the meds work for him.

[GarpBas'nJen]

:eek:I was browsing the net looking for information on health topics (actually related to particular breeds) and read your post on chylothorax. I have a wonderfully sweet siamese who I bought from a breeder about a year and a half ago, who has some of the same symptoms you describe. I bought him when he was a year old and the breeder told me they didn't want to breed his color anymore, but assured me he was healthy to the core. About a month after I got him home he started having coughing fits that didn't really seem to produce anything. I took him to the vet and he told me at first that he thought it was a heart problem. But now he seems to think it has to do with the lungs. I did not know that cats could have this problem. Garp is already on prednison and furosemide (we have tried other heart medication, fortecor, as well as homeopathic medication all to no avail). I wonder if Garp has the same thing as Ozzy. It is so frustrating for me to see him go through the bouts of coughing. I wish there was something more that could be done. In any case I think I am going to ask my vet about this.

GarpBas'nJen

[slick]

Welcome to Pet Talk. You'll find a great source of support and love here. Although I have not experience with this, Nomilynn can provide you with alot of info. She did post these links awhile back that explains the disease.

http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/chylothorax.html

http://rev.tamu.edu/stories/02/091902-3.html

http://www.acatclinic.com/library/CHYLO.htm

Sounds like a good idea to go back to the vet. Please keep us posted and BTW Garp is very handsome. Did I mention that we love to see lots and lots of pictures??

[GarpBas'nJen]

Thank you Slick,

The links were very informative.

Thankfully Garp has been doing a bit better the last little while, but since the vet says Garp should only take prednison when the symptoms flare up, he still has days when he is not well.

The vet has never done any tests to check for chylothorax. I am definitely going to ask my vet about this condition. Perhaps it would be useful to have him do more testing.

GarpBas'nJen

[Nomilynn]

When researching chylothorax, I came across a lot of info about how Siamese cats were more prone to conditions like this. Another member on here, Miss Meow, had a siamese with a condition where the pleural cavity filled with blood. Try giving her a PM as well and maybe she'll have some great advice :)

Welcome to Pet Talk!

[ozzlou]

hi garp!
i'm sorry i didn't see your post til now...
i'm so sorry you're going through this...i would suggest an xray- to see what's going on in your kitty's lungs. if the find that they have to tap- they will test the fluid they get to see if its chylo.
the info on the internet, seems all the same. one site says the exact same thing as the other...
i'll add your kitty to the prayer list...hopefully its asthma. ozzy's only symptom is coughing, so the breeder really may not have known.
best of luck, and keep us posted!
ozzlou

[kimlovescats]

Garp is very handsome .... I hope you are able to get to the source of his coughing!!! Please keep us updated!;)

[GarpBas'nJen]

Nomilynn, Ozzlou, Slick, and Kim,

Thank you so much for the information, links and prayers.
Garp has been coughing a lot today again. It is just so frustrating because for a while things seem to go well and then the coughing starts up again. I wish there was a way for him to get better. The vet says that Garp does not really suffer under this, but I have trouble believing that because of the way he sounds when he coughs. It makes me so sad.

I am praying that Ozzy, Lucky, and Basset keep doing better also.

GarpBas'nJen

[Nomilynn]

My advice is to get another opinion from another vet. Has Garp had an xray? That will tell you if he has fluid in his plueral cavity. Has he had an ultrasound? That will show if he has heart trouble. I can't help but think the vet isn't doing ALL he can if he honestly believes a cat that coughs isn't suffering. If you think there is more to it, go with your gut feeling and get Garp to somewhere else. I didn't go with my gut feeling with Bassett at first, and when I finally did take her to my vet she was in pretty bad shape. Here you have a nad feeling, and your vet isn't responding!! It can't hurt to be safe.. good luck :)

PS- I'm not trying to bash your vet or be negative.. just if I was in your situation I would get a second opinion. I don't mean to offend :)

[Catsnclay]

YES!! I totally agree with Naomi!! I too listened to my vet, and just waited...........until Lucky was in complete distress! This is NOT good for your cat or you!! Trust us!!

Besides a second opinion never hurts! Make sure you get that x-ray..........and if there is fluid, make sure they tap him to get rid of it. It will NOT go away on its own or by medication!!!!!

[Miss Meow]

I'm with Naomi and Catsnclay. For your own peace of mind, seek another opinion, preferably from a feline specialist or an animal heart specialist - they're sometimes hard to find but they do exist.

Mini had similar symptoms and we had x-rays and ultrasounds to diagnose a rare heart condition called PDA, which was causing his lungs to fill with blood from the heart and cause coughing as the main symptom. It was a relief to know what we were dealing with, but heartbreaking to learn that he only had two months to a year to live if we didn't try the surgery option. We took the risk and he lived to tell the tale. He's the meezer boy at the right of my sig pic :)

Welcome to PT Garp, your cats are stunning, truly beautiful characters :)

Good luck to all of you going through these problems, and hope for good news.

[ozzlou]

hi you guys.

ozzy was tapped again yesterday, for 140cc's.
i have decided against surgery, because i read a few things that said it only worked for 30% of kitties, and thoracic surgery is pretty painful. i couldn't do that to him unless i knew it would work for sure.
so now, its tap tap tap...pray he doesn't get an infection, or a collapsed lung...when he seems like he's had enough, god will let me know what to do.
i have lots to be thankful for...like my vet being so wonderful, a job that lets me leave early to take him to the vet...
and most important,
ozzy doesn't seem to be suffering, and he's co-operative with getting tapped.
i won't stop praying though.
thanks for the support you guys,
take care,
ozzlou

[Nomilynn]

Originally posted by ozzlou
hi you guys.

ozzy was tapped again yesterday, for 140cc's.
i have decided against surgery, because i read a few things that said it only worked for 30% of kitties, and thoracic surgery is pretty painful. i couldn't do that to him unless i knew it would work for sure.
so now, its tap tap tap...pray he doesn't get an infection, or a collapsed lung...when he seems like he's had enough, god will let me know what to do.
i have lots to be thankful for...like my vet being so wonderful, a job that lets me leave early to take him to the vet...
and most important,
ozzy doesn't seem to be suffering, and he's co-operative with getting tapped.
i won't stop praying though.
thanks for the support you guys,
take care,
ozzlou

I'm so sorry you are being faced with this decision. It's very hard and frustrating :( You and Ozzy are always in my prayers.. good luck. :)

[Catsnclay]

You are in our thoughts too!

Just keep us posted and we will be here for your support!

[GarpBas'nJen]

I would go for another opinion but my vet is one of a team of vets in this quadrant of Rotterdam, who have all looked at Garp (he has been seen by about 6 vets). My vet is a heart specialist, and when I went in with Garp the first time he showed this problem (a month after I got him), the vet did do an xray. At that time his heart was enlarged. The vet started him on furosemide, and initially this was enough to ease the problem. But eventually it alone didn't help. And the vet wanted him not to use furosemide every day if it could be helped since this can affect the electrolyte balance / kidneys. We tried a homeopathic solution which helped for a short while but again the coughing returned. Then we tried fortecor (kind of like kitty digoxine to strengthen the hearts pumping). It also seemed to help for a while, but frustratingly the coughing started again. The vet seems now to think that the enlarged heart was caused by a lung problem, but there have been no further tests to actually make a diagnosis,he told me that the result would probably not change the treatment significantly. He said that the enlarged heart in the xray could be a result of lung insufficiency, since the heart and lungs work together closely. Since Garp is taking prednisone things seem to be going a bit better, but since he doesn't get prednisone all the time, he still has days that the coughing spells return. Prednison is really bad for the kidneys not to mention other systems within the body so the vet wants him to only take it when he has been coughing. I think the first step is to actually get more testing done (like you all suggested) and a diagnosis made. Problem is that the symptoms come and go (especially with the medication use) so by the time it is one of the doctor's sitting hours the symptoms have subsided.

[Steffi N]

Healing thoughts and sympathy coming your way, Ozzy and Garp.
I'm thankful that Ozzy is not suffering and I can only hope that Garp is not either. Gentle pets and skritichies coming your way.

[slick]

Oh poor Garp and Ozzy! I really wish there was something more I could do to help you both. Please know you are in my daily prayers always.

[GarpBas'nJen]

Thank you all so much for your support and prayers.

[ozzlou]

you guys are awesome!

ozzy & i appreciate your prayers...who knows, miracles happen every day-right?

i will keep you all posted on how ozzy is doing.
thanks again, for the well-wishes.:)

ozzlou

[ozzlou]

hi you guys,

i thought i'd give everyone an update...unfortunately there is little improvement.
ozzy has been getting tapped every week for a few weeks now. he started prednisone last week, and the coughing has greatly decreased, however he seems to be breathing harder and faster than ususal. and he seems to be using his accessory muscles to breathe- which is not good. labored breathing puts a lot of strain on the heart.
we'll be making our weekly visit to the vet tomorrow.
my heart is aching, i just want him better. i stare at him constantly. i had such a different picture when i first adopted him. his mama gave birth to 7 kitties, under a porch at my job, in ny.
ozzy was the last kitty to be adopted- i hesitated cuz i didn't know how my greyhound would like a kitty. but ozzy was too cute, so i scooped him up, and brought him home. ozzy was 4 months, louie was 6 yrs old. one swat from ozzy scared the hell outta louie, and let him know that ozzy was not food, or a rabbit. ever since then, they have been the best of friends. ozzy was supposed to be with me til he was a fiesty old kitty...2 yrs old is far too young to be taken...no fair.

but i'm still praying.
ozzlou

[slick]

Ozzlou - My heart aches for you and I can't image how you must be feeling, but try to remain optimistic. Max, Specks, and me are praying really really hard that a miracle will happen.

[Steffi N]

I am sorry to hear that Ozzy is not doing well. Hopefully the vet will be able to help. Our hearts and prayers are with you.