What is Fluid in the Chest?
Many problems with respiratory function can result from fluid buildup in your dog’s chest. Examples of complications can include lack of room for lungs to expand, which causes restricted breathing, or lung collapse. On occasion, pleural effusion is found at a regular check up. Most often the issue is diagnosed at a time of respiratory distress. If you start to notice laboured breathing in your dog, or if your dog is having trouble keeping up his normal activity level, a veterinary visit is advised without delay.
Fluid in the chest in dogs is known in veterinary terms as pleural effusion. It's expected that there is a very small amount of fluid in the pleural space; but if there is a problem with drainage or an excess of production, the accumulation of fluid can cause a crisis situation for your pet.Fluid in the Chest Average Cost
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Symptoms of Fluid in the Chest in Dogs
Fluid in the chest is a somewhat common reason for abnormal respiratory function in dogs. Often resulting from an underlying condition, pleural effusion can cause the following symptoms:
Early pleural effusion meaning only a small amount of fluid has begun to accumulate:
- Showing a low tolerance to activity and exercise
- Lethargy and lower energy level than usual
Increasing pleural effusion as respiratory affliction is proliferating:
- Rapid breathing (tachypnea)
- Difficulty breathing (dyspnea)
- Extension of neck as if trying to reach air
- Sitting or lying in an unusual position in an attempt to ease breathing
- Blue or pale gums, lips, or tongue (cyanosis) due to lack of oxygen in the blood
- Low body temperature (hypothermia)
- Shock
Depending on the underlying cause of the fluid accumulation, you may see fever, weight loss, mental dullness, depression, pale gums, or other symptoms that accompany the disorder.
Types
The types of fluid in the chest in dogs are classified in the following ways:
- Hydrothorax - (noninflammatory transudate) due to increased hydrostatic pressure, brought on by an elevated cell and protein content or decreased oncotic pressure, brought on by low albumin in the blood.
- Chylothorax - milky lymphatic fluid and chylomicrons containing a high concentrate of triglycerides accumulate.
- Hemothorax - blood accumulates in the pleural cavity.
- Pyothorax - accumulation of fluid due to an infection or growth.
Causes of Fluid in the Chest in Dogs
Fluid in the chest in dogs is a relatively common complication. There are a plethora of reasons that can lead to the accumulation of fluids; some of which are listed below:
- Hydrothorax - liver disease, malnutrition, malabsorption, right-sided heart failure, burns, chronic hemorrhaging, protein-losing nephropathy (kidney disease), protein-losing enteropathy (intestinal disease).
- Chylothorax - cancer, chronic vomiting, diaphragmatic hernia, twisted lung lobe, blood clot in chest veins, congenital defects.
- Hemothorax - trauma, lymphoma, pulmonary and chest wall tumors.
- Pyothorax - penetrating wounds, infection, pulmonary thromboembolism, heartworm, pneumonia, esophageal disease, complications from an underlying condition such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
Diagnosis of Fluid in the Chest in Dogs
The veterinarian will begin the process of diagnosis after requesting a brief history from you in regards to your pet’s recent behavior and apparent health. Be sure to be as accurate and complete as possible in relaying information to the veterinarian. There are many diagnostic procedures used to identify this condition, and any information you can initially provide is extremely helpful.
Chances are, the veterinarian will hear muffled sounds in the lungs through the use of a stethoscope. Palpation of the abdomen may show pain is present. She may then decide to perform additional tests in order to pinpoint the cause of the problem.
A chest x-ray can reveal an accumulation of fluid in the thoracic cavity, and may show possible lung collapse, or evidence of heart disease or the growth of a tumour. Fluid may be obtained from the chest with the use of a needle, which is necessary when proceeding to identify the type of fluid in the chest. Draining the fluid away also forms part of the treatment plan. An ultrasound of the chest, and often including the abdomen, will be done to show the condition of the lungs and other organs. An ultrasound is also helpful when determining where the needle should be placed for removal of fluid.
A complete blood count, chemistry profile, and fungal titers test may be done, as well as a heartworm test. Results may show abnormalities in glucose, albumin or liver enzyme levels, for example. Urinalysis may show proteinuria. A coagulation profile may be done as well. Information from all of the completed tests will be used to determine the type and cause of the fluid buildup.
Treatment of Fluid in the Chest in Dogs
In order to resolve the issue of fluid in the chest, the cause, whether it be sudden or due to an underlying disease, must be determined. As an example, cancer will be additionally treated with chemotherapy and radiation after the fluid in the chest has been drained. Another example would be the need to treat and eliminate an infection through the use of antibiotics.
To start treatment for pleural effusion, the veterinarian will provide oxygen therapy in order to make your dog more comfortable. The chest will be drained by the insertion of a needle, along with suction through the placement of a chest drain. This may need to be in place for a few days.
Intravenous fluids may be required if your pet is dehydrated. At times, a surgical exploratory thoracotomy may be necessary to investigate the cause of the fluid buildup. A thoracotomy may be necessary for draining, or to perform a correctional procedure. Radiographs will be part of the treatment because it will be important to monitor how the chosen therapy is working.
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Recovery of Fluid in the Chest in Dogs
The prognosis of recovery will range from good to poor, depending on the cause and whether a serious underlying disease is found. If surgery was part of the treatment, your dog might remain in the hospital for 3 to 5 days, and the chest tube will need to remain in place until the fluid accumulation problem is under control.
When released from the hospital, your pet may require additional pain medication and/or antibiotics. Follow up appointments are an important part of the treatment for pleural effusion; radiographs and ultrasounds are often repeated to ensure that recovery is continuing.
The veterinarian will recommend any dietary changes required(such as a low fat, low sodium diet), and will advise you on exercise restrictions and for how long leash only outings are mandatory.
Fluid in the Chest Average Cost
From 9 quotes ranging from $1,200 - $6,000
Average Cost
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Fluid in the Chest Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Parson Russell Terrier
Tito
11 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Cough Choking, Swollen Lymph Nodes
Started out with reverse sneezing and progressed to choking. At check up found swollen lymph nodes in neck. Tested thyroid, ran bloodwork all normal. X-ray shows mass in chest cavity pushing outward up toward throat area. Aspirated and sent to lab, result were fat and salivitory enzymes..reaspirated 3 times and oxygenated blood was all they could get this time. In 3 days since the first aspiration, there was a reduction in the nodes in the neck on one side without medication. Started today 20 mg of prednisone to see if can reduce more. Mass is not on lungs or heart...no infection showing in tests. Mass is pressing upward on esophagus and trachea. Causing the cough and choking but it has eased somewhat in the last couple of days. Again before the prednisone was given. Any thoughts on what is going on? This has 2 very good vets stumped. No loss of appetite, no legarthy, no weight loss, still very active.
July 26, 2017
0 Recommendations
This sounds like a difficult case; did either Veterinarian perform a fine needle aspirate of the lymph nodes? It would be interesting to know the types of cells present. One suspicion would be a thymic haemorrhage (which can cause dyspnoea, increased respiratory effort and lethargy) which may explain blood being drawn three days after the first aspiration and the presence of fat (thymus turns fatty with age) in the initial aspiration but doesn’t explain salivary enzymes or the swelling of the lymph nodes. I am stumped as well, an aspiration of the lymph nodes may give an indication of what is happening or ultrasound of the thoracic inlet (maybe tricky) which may give an indication of blood supply using Doppler and the structure of the mass (detail not picked up on x-rays). Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
Yes fine needle aspirations done on lymph nodes in his neck. I think surrounding glands as well. They did it again closer to the base of his neck where the chest starts. That's where they got the oxygenated blood. Nothing abnormal showed up in the cells this is what has them stumped. He does not show any signs of legarthy at all. And 3 days time since the first aspiration then swelling went down some in his neck. The mass doesn't seem to be attached to anything but in the lymph node in his chest cavity. Sonogram was mentioned as a scope will not really see anything. I asked about aspirating the main body of the mass in the chest cavity but he isn't recommending that because of where it is.
July 26, 2017
Tito's Owner
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Australian Shepherd
Callie
3 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Shallow Rapid Breathing
Labored And Difficult Breathing
My dog was recently taken to an emergency vet due to her breathing being shallow and rapid. She also has some wheezing and rarely coughing. The vet took x-rays and said she had fluid in her chest so they removed some of the fluid. She told us the fluid was clear and acellular but did not give us any other answers. Could there be a very serious underlying cause if she shows no other symptoms? The doctor gave us no real answers and I hope to follow up with my normal vet as soon as possible
July 26, 2017
1 Recommendations
The cause of fluid in the chest needs to be investigated as the fluid is a symptom of another condition; causes include low blood protein (protein losing enteropathy, protein losing nephropathy), heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, cancer or low blood albumin. It would be best to have blood tests done to establish Callie’s overall internal health to see if there is any underlying condition. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
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Dachshund
Peppy
13 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Wheezing, Gagging, Weight Loss, Appetite Loss
Hello,
My dachshund has a tumor on the right side of his neck. This has really started to affect his breathing and he is gasping for air. He is breathing very heavily and comes to a point of choking and makes a very loud gagging noise to clear his throat . The frequency of the gagging is higher at night and his heavy breathing does not allow him to sleep properly at night. There is also some phlegm discharge after his gagging. He has lost his appetite and a lot of weight and has trouble drinking,eating and swallowing. I just want him to give him some relief for his heavy breathing. I have taken him to 3 vet's in my home town but no medication seems to work or the diagnosis is not right. Is there anything I can give him or any therapy that will give him some relief from his wheezy breathing.He tends to sit in an upright position and can't lie to his side because of his breathing issues. I can share more info with you if you'de like. Please let me know how I can give him some relief. A big thank you in advance and bless you for the kind work you are doing.
July 26, 2017
0 Recommendations
It sounds like the mass on Peppy’s neck is occluding her airway and causing irritation making her cough at all hours of the day as well as making swallowing difficult or painful. The cause of a mass in the neck may be due to enlarged lymph nodes, swollen salivary glands, infection, thyroid conditions, tumours, lipoma or abscesses. The most important task in a case of mass on the neck is identifying the type of mass and its origin; usually a fine needle aspirate or biopsy is taken to determine the contents of the mass and the type of cells present (cancerous or not), also an ultrasound would be useful in the diagnosis to determine the involvement of the mass with surrounding structures. Unfortunately, the treatment is dependent on the diagnosis, without getting the diagnosis we are unable to successfully treat the mass. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
The vet over here has detected it as a tumor
July 26, 2017
Peppy's Owner
Would it be advisable to do a biopsy at this age? And is there any medication to ease the breathing?
TIA
July 26, 2017
Peppy's Owner
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Fluid in the Chest Average Cost
From 9 quotes ranging from $1,200 - $6,000
Average Cost
$4,000
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