Fluid In The Chest in Cats

The page has given me so much comfort. My little guy, Snowbee, had become kind of lethargic in the past month or so. One day my toddler startled him and he jumped up and ran away. When we caught back up to him, Snowbee was “panting” and it freaked me out. I immediately called the vet and they had me bring him in. The vet couldn’t find anything wrong with him without an x-ray. The vet said his lungs sounded clear and most likely it was a hair ball and we could consider putting him on some heartburn medication. We took him home and then last week I noticed that not only had his breathing seemed still labored, it had gotten worse. I couldn’t hold him with his head raised up because he would pant. He was mostly laying with his head hanging off the side of the bed. I called to get him in and the soonest they could see him was within the next week. The next day, I noticed it was still bad, so I called again and had him seen as an emergency. The x-ray showed fluid in his lungs. The doctor recommended a tap to identify the fluid and after the tap she drained 120mL of Chyle. At this point we were at a junction, he was still breathing super hard (it hadn’t really improved his condition at all), and the next steps included further testing to determine the source or to put him down. I never wanted to spend $5000 on him, so I went the avenue of putting him down. The vet said, “It’s what I’d do if it was my cat too”. When we went in to say goodbye (thanks a lot social distancing), he was breathing harder than ever. I think a lot had to do with stress too, but his stomach/abdomen was distending, he could only breathe with his mouth open, and his nostrils were flaring. We said goodbye that afternoon, with basically no prep. I have now become an armchair expert on Chylothrox in cats, and have spent quite a bit of time hoping I made the right decision. I read certain places that Rustin can help, but our doctor had noted that she never saw great improvement with the use of the drug and had worked in a cat hospital before. Ultimately, I never wanted my cat to suffer and I never wanted to wake up and find him dead in our closet. He was too good to us to be selfish and keep him around. Reading these experiences on this forum help me feel like I probably made the humane choice for Snowbee, no matter how much it breaks my heart.

Thanks for sharing everyone. This helps us to process what's going on with our 14 year old Picardy (beautiful sweet Abyssinian). Our $500 tests came back with an Xray showing fluid in the chest but not much else. Blood panel looked ok but kidney out slightly. We spoke with two vets who both wanted to tap the fluid to send it off. This would have been another $700. Neither could tell us if there was a chance of a positive outcome, so we had his chest tapped ($300) to give him some relief but not sent off. Vet said fluid may have indicated cancer but was not sure. Sent us home with sub-q fluids as he was not eating or drinking. He ended up drinking and peeing fairly normally until tonight when he showed no results from multiple trips to the litter box. He eventually got out some blood and that was pretty thick with nothing else. He's resting comfortably now, but we intend to take him in to put him down today. I have to remind myself that he's not comfortable and has had the ideal life. This pain I feel doesn't seem rational because I know he's just a cat, but it does reflect the happiness we've had with him.

Had 5 year old cat's fluid around lungs drained four days ago due to her having severe trouble breathing. Cat was terrified of vet and this alone almost killed her. Not kidding. Terror will take them over the edge. Vet stabilized my cat with oxygen and then sedated to do drainage. Three hours later, cat had mucous coming out of nose and mouth and became almost unresponsive. She climbed up into the undercarriage of my heavy bed. I can't move bed. Had to try to live with cat dead or dying under my bed as I tried to sleep. Dreamed cat joined me on bed (or maybe she did). Yet food not touched or litter box used. Two days later brother finally came over to move bed and collect dead cat. Cat zoomed out in fear. Was breathing normally. Unfortunately, this only lasted a few hours. Two days later I am writing this. Cat has been very affectionate. Breathing not good, but drainage with ultrasound by excellent vet has helped and she has fighting chance. Great appetite all along. Now believe she definitely got up on bed while she thought I was sleeping. Vet had suggested euthanasia rather than operating, but I knew my cat loves life. I think not eating for more than 24 hours helped her fluid accumulation issue. I believe when her stomach full she is in more breathing distress. Six weeks ago she was heaving non stop. At that time I took a human Zithromax pill and smashed it in a plastic bag with a hammer. I then gave her 1/6 of the powdered pill in Fancy Feast Classic Broth (many cats addicted to some additive in this food so will tolerate bitter medicine with it). I gave her 1/6th of pill as she's almost 1/5th of my weight (she's a ragdoll breed and about 30 lbs.). The Zithromax stopped the heaving (like having hairball but nothing came out). Every two days she started heaving again and I again gave her a Zithromax dose. Each time heaving stopped in minutes (she gulped medicine between violent heaves, never lost appetite). Still trying to solve mystery of what is going on. Cat sleeping peacefully next to me at moment. I've ordered Rutin for her.

I'm going through it right now. Please contact me if you read this. Can't write much now. Stairing at my cat to see when he starts opening his mouth to breath and the "final struggle" begins. I was told it shouldn't go for longer than 10min... everything you guys described, experiencing it right now. Since 3week aprox. Every 2-3 days going to the vet to take out the fluid. Diagnosed with fiv. They tested every thing....... still can't say why or what to do. I'm in thailand. After spending over 3000$ and him only getting worse i brought him home. He hates me for leaving hom with them. He wants to be near me but its as if he's so heartbroken and wants to kill himself but doesn't know how. FB : Prisana Manton Whats app: +66614141423

My sweet little girl is a 10 month old Ocicat named Muse. We found out after purchasing her she has a level 3-4 heart murmur--we took a gamble and decided to keep her. Queue yesterday. I took her into the vet because I noticed she was breathing fast and heaving. Fears confirmed. An ultrasound showed fluid in her chest and that her heart is distended. She had a chest tap last night (was crazy hyper as soon as we got home and still was when I left for work this morning). The vet said they didn't get all of the fluid, like they had hoped, but they got 80ml. She was put on Lasix. Half pill morning and night 12 hours apart. I find out more in two weeks when I take her back. At 10 months old with a 3-4 level heart murmur, enlarged heart, and already getting fluid in her chest cavity... I think it would be an injustice to myself emotionally if I held out hope. Just going to love and snuggle my spunky baby and hope she makes it past Christmas. :(