My cat has been breathing heavily lately so I took him to an emergency vet yesterday to find out he has chylothorax and the vet recommended euthanasia. I was absolutely devastated, he's only 5 years old and has always been healthy and happy so to hear that news was shocking. I begged for suggestions other than euthanasia, she said he could be hospitalized to find out what's causing it and possibly getting surgery. I would do anything to save him so I agreed to have him hospitalized. $6,000 later, they didn't find any cancer or heart problems that could be causing it so they said it was ideopathic chylothorax. They weren't optimistic about the prognosis, they said rutin and low fat diet could help but only in about half of cats diagnosed. The surgery they're recommending costs $8,000 and they said it's only successful in about 50 percent of operations. I'm so torn right now, I've already maxed out my credit cards on the hospital stay so I would have to get a loan for the surgery. But if it doesn't work, I've spent $8,000 for nothing. I might try the rutin and diet for now but I don't want to risk my cat possibly dying because that route ends up not working and I should've just gotten the surgery for him. Most people think I'm insane for willing to spend that much on a cat but he's still young and has been there for me through some really rough times in my life so I can't bare losing him now.
Has anyone had any experience with this? Gotten the surgery? Advice? Thanks in advance!
Has anyone had any experience with this? Gotten the surgery? Advice? Thanks in advance!