Cat has lots of fluid on her lungs
November 16, 2015 6:09 PM Subscribe
My 2-year-old cat is at the veterinarian’s office overnight. I’m afraid she may not have much time left. I’m looking for more information than I’ve got so far so I have a better idea of what I’m dealing with.
Punkin hasn’t been eating much, if at all, lately. I took her to the vet last week. She was X-rayed and everything looked normal. I was told to measure her food intake.
Last night, I noticed her breathing was labored, and this continued into the morning, so I took her out this morning. More X-rays showed a lot of fluid that is collapsing her lungs. Normally, this is seen in feline leukemia, but the blood work shows she doesn’t have that. It’s likely either an infection or cancer. The vet managed to draw some of the fluid off this afternoon but said it wasn’t going well as there are “holes” in her lungs and there’s not much suction and it’s hard to get fluid out.
Anything you can tell me from your knowledge or experience will be helpful. Thanks.
Punkin hasn’t been eating much, if at all, lately. I took her to the vet last week. She was X-rayed and everything looked normal. I was told to measure her food intake.
Last night, I noticed her breathing was labored, and this continued into the morning, so I took her out this morning. More X-rays showed a lot of fluid that is collapsing her lungs. Normally, this is seen in feline leukemia, but the blood work shows she doesn’t have that. It’s likely either an infection or cancer. The vet managed to draw some of the fluid off this afternoon but said it wasn’t going well as there are “holes” in her lungs and there’s not much suction and it’s hard to get fluid out.
Anything you can tell me from your knowledge or experience will be helpful. Thanks.
Best answer: I had a cat with fluid in her chest like that and it turned out to be feline infectious peritonitis, which unfortunately is fatal. So I had to have her put to sleep. I hope it isn't that.
posted by interplanetjanet at 6:39 PM on November 16, 2015
posted by interplanetjanet at 6:39 PM on November 16, 2015
I had a cat with cardiomyopathy. He had fluid in his chest cavity, but not in the lungs themselves. The fluid in the chest cavity made it difficult for the lungs to fully expand, so his breathing was labored. Are you sure that's not what's going on with your cat? It sounds like that, when you say the fluid is collapsing the lungs.
Our cat's vet would aspirate the fluid out of the cat's chest cavity whenever the breathing became a little difficult. This was every month or so for a while, then over time, I had to bring the cat in for more frequent aspiration, until it was almost every week. Cat lived for a few years with this regimen, and eventually died of something (cancer on his mouth) totally unrelated.
I have no idea, of course, if your cat has this problem, so this may not be helpful.
I'm sorry you have to deal with this!
posted by merejane at 7:40 PM on November 16, 2015
Our cat's vet would aspirate the fluid out of the cat's chest cavity whenever the breathing became a little difficult. This was every month or so for a while, then over time, I had to bring the cat in for more frequent aspiration, until it was almost every week. Cat lived for a few years with this regimen, and eventually died of something (cancer on his mouth) totally unrelated.
I have no idea, of course, if your cat has this problem, so this may not be helpful.
I'm sorry you have to deal with this!
posted by merejane at 7:40 PM on November 16, 2015
Response by poster: UPDATE: Punkin is home now, but she is by no means out of the woods. She was given a diuretic and her lungs are largely back where they belong. I'm going to keep giving her the medicine for a week and then take her back. But the vet still doesn't know what the problem is, and none of the options are good.
The "holes" mentioned above are actually pockets of fluid rather than her having a big mass of fluid around her lungs. The vet still hasn't gotten any of that out to test.
Thanks for your responses and kindness.
posted by bryon at 12:11 PM on November 17, 2015
The "holes" mentioned above are actually pockets of fluid rather than her having a big mass of fluid around her lungs. The vet still hasn't gotten any of that out to test.
Thanks for your responses and kindness.
posted by bryon at 12:11 PM on November 17, 2015
OK I know nothing about this particular condition, but considering what some of the other commenters have said above, my only suggestion is to prepare for the worst. Have a serious conversation with your vet about what happens if your cat goes downhill and at what point you would put her down. Get the number of an emergency vet if you need to see one in the middle of the night or something. Decide *now* what you would want to do with Punkin's remains (if you have a significant other, you might find that you have different ideas about that, and it's better to decide ahead of time).
Sorry, I don't mean to be morbid. I hope the vet is able to figure out what's wrong with your baby and you can fix it. But if that's not possible, it's better to be prepared.
posted by radioamy at 1:10 PM on November 17, 2015
Sorry, I don't mean to be morbid. I hope the vet is able to figure out what's wrong with your baby and you can fix it. But if that's not possible, it's better to be prepared.
posted by radioamy at 1:10 PM on November 17, 2015
I'm so sorry this is happening.
A friend's young cat showed similar symptoms; her symptoms were due to an infection that had progressed too far to be treated effectively. She had to be euthanized within hours of diagnosis.
Based on my friend's experience, the fact that Punkin came home with you at all strikes me as a good sign, but I am not a vet. I very much hope the diuretics, and any other medicine the vet prescribes, continue to help your cat.
posted by Owlcat at 7:44 PM on November 17, 2015
A friend's young cat showed similar symptoms; her symptoms were due to an infection that had progressed too far to be treated effectively. She had to be euthanized within hours of diagnosis.
Based on my friend's experience, the fact that Punkin came home with you at all strikes me as a good sign, but I am not a vet. I very much hope the diuretics, and any other medicine the vet prescribes, continue to help your cat.
posted by Owlcat at 7:44 PM on November 17, 2015
My young kitty, who was diagnosed with feline leukemia virus early, had the lung-fluid problem when the leukemia turned into lymphoma. The vet drained fluid from her lungs and we did see improvement (appetite and affectionateness, which had suffered, picked up quickly), but she went home pretty much with the understanding that it was more likely hospice than recovery. I was actually very grateful for having about a week and a half to love on her and give her lots of treats, and then she showed me when she was ready to go back for the final visit. At the very least, I hope you and Punkin can have that time.
posted by dlugoczaj at 8:59 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by dlugoczaj at 8:59 AM on November 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: FINAL UPDATE: I just got home from the vet's. Punkin had been going downhill peacefully, but she seemed to be in a little pain this morning. So I made an appointment to do the right thing. I'm pretty sure she died as I walked in the door with her. And it was still peaceful.
posted by bryon at 12:31 PM on November 20, 2015
posted by bryon at 12:31 PM on November 20, 2015
I'm sorry for you that she is gone, but glad that it was peaceful. Rest in peace sweet girl.
posted by dlugoczaj at 8:59 AM on November 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by dlugoczaj at 8:59 AM on November 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Medieval Maven at 6:22 PM on November 16, 2015