HELP Need advice on cat with CRF and water on the lungs

My 17 year old cat has had CRF for about two years now. I give him fluid every other day with potassium in the fluid. I was giving him fortekor(benazpril) in the past but had quit for a while because I couldn't get the prescription gravy food that I would crush up the pill and put it in. I just gave him some fortekor last night. I noticed labored breathing today and the he just had fluid on his lungs that the vet drained today. I am waiting on test results from the fluid. Him seems to still be breathing quite deeply and am wondering whether he has anemia which possibly caused the water on the lungs problem??? Has anyone had experience with this and have any suggestions?

Heart failure causes fluid to build up in the chest.

Originally Posted by kitytize

Heart failure causes fluid to build up in the chest.

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This is exactly what I was thinking. I had a friend with a 17 or 18 year old cat who had CRF & then developed Congestive Heart Failure. She was on medication to reduce the fluid around the heart & lungs. That being said she was caught between a rock & a hard place. The meds for the heart were not great for the kidneys & she needed to give fluids which is not great for the CHF. All I can say is that she had to work closley with the vet to get the right balance.

Thanks for the info. We are waiting for bloodwork to come back tomorrow. He was doing terrible today but after I gave him some fluids he was a little better and ate quite a bit. I am wondering how manageable the crf and heart failure are. Does anyone know?

The only thing I know is what my friend told me & her cat did well until the last night of her life. It was just a matter of finding a balance between enough fluids to support her kidneys but not so much that it caused problems with her heart.