Trans Trachea Wash

crazyforinfo

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Has anyone had this done for their cat or dog?

Molly is having a really bad asthma day. I noticed her mouth was opened while she breathed so we rushed her to the ER Vet. We left here there for treatment and about 30mins ago they called saying she turned blue. She is stabilized now. They recommended a Trans Trachea Wash. It's sounds pretty scary and it's very costly. I don't want to put Molly through this if it isn't necessary. The vet believe Molly has to have this done if not now but in the near future.

What are your thoughts?
 

2furbabies

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I don't know much about it, but from doing a quick internet search it seems to be safe and effective.




KEY FACTS
The transtracheal wash is a safe, useful, and simple procedure to help evaluate the patient with respiratory tract disease.
In medium to large dogs a catheter is used to collect specimens with the patient given local anesthesia only.
In cats and small dogs the procedure warrants general anesthesia and an endotracheal tube is used for sample collection.
 
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crazyforinfo

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Originally Posted by 2furbabies

I don't know much about it, but from doing a quick internet search it seems to be safe and effective.




KEY FACTS
The transtracheal wash is a safe, useful, and simple procedure to help evaluate the patient with respiratory tract disease.
In medium to large dogs a catheter is used to collect specimens with the patient given local anesthesia only.
In cats and small dogs the procedure warrants general anesthesia and an endotracheal tube is used for sample collection.
Thanks. I found the same information from a web search.

I wonder if anyone here has had this procedure done.
 

mews2much

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I do not know anything about it. Coco just had the Xrays for her Asthma. She made herself Sick last night. She was running around then breathing hard from her Asthma. I hope your Cat feels better.
 
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crazyforinfo

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Originally Posted by mews2much

I do not know anything about it. Coco just had the Xrays for her Asthma. She made herself Sick last night. She was running around then breathing hard from her Asthma. I hope your Cat feels better.
Thanks hun! I remember when Coco was going back/forth with colds and the asthma. I haven't found mentioning of this wash for asthma testing but I found one site that explained the procedure. It just sounds nasty and unpleasant.
 

mom of 4

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I don't understand why it would be a good idea in a cat with asthma.
The bronchi and bronchioles are twitchy when you have an asthma attack, meaning they tend to swell up and constrict. I would worry about doing the wash on an already irritated area.
What do they expect to find? I could understand it if they were looking for an infection or tumor....
 
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crazyforinfo

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Originally Posted by Mom of 4

I don't understand why it would be a good idea in a cat with asthma.
The bronchi and bronchioles are twitchy when you have an asthma attack, meaning they tend to swell up and constrict. I would worry about doing the wash on an already irritated area.
What do they expect to find? I could understand it if they were looking for an infection or tumor....
They are looking for an infection.. (tumor maybe). They said the X-Ray showed significant changes w/ a patchy pattern. Sounds to me the X-ray was worst than she expected to find in an Asthma patient. She didn't couldn't do the wash today b/c she wasn't stable enough. She would like to do it tomorrow. Either way the Vet strongly suggests getting it done in the future. I had called my vet to ask their opinion but thanks to their record keeping they can't discuss the matter since they lost her file. (They seemed to have purged all records over 1 year old.) I tried calling another vet for advice and they didn't call back either.

Been a bad night. If I don't do it tomorrow then I have to ask my vet about it in the future. What vet, I dunno.

So they want to do the wash to exam the fluids they retrieve. They are testing for toxoplasmosis which they will draw for tomorrow morning. I gave the go ahead for this. She really doesn't think it would be toxoplasmosis. Molly did have a URI about 1.5 ago when we got Benson and had antibiotics then.
 

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I was told Coco had Lung Cancer when it was Severe Asthma with a Bad Cold once. The Vet I go to now knew as soon as he saw the Xrays it wasnt. I hope your Cat will be ok.
 
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crazyforinfo

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Originally Posted by mews2much

I was told Coco had Lung Cancer when it was Severe Asthma with a Bad Cold once. The Vet I go to now knew as soon as he saw the Xrays it wasnt. I hope your Cat will be ok.
Thanks hon! I decided I will ask the ER vet for a referral to a reg vet that is experienced with asthmatic cats.

I am still unsure about the wash. The ER vet might be the only facility that is capable of doing it. The good thing is the ER vet is connected to Univ of Penn hospital.
 
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crazyforinfo

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I just got off the phone with the doctor. She is going to do the wash later this afternoon. I read on a support forum that the wash is used to rule out cancer.
I just hope it's asthma and nothing worst. We will have the results late next week or the beginning of the following week.

Her breathing is a little fast but she is in a room with dogs too. I heard them barking and I know she isn't happy about that. LoL
 
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crazyforinfo

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Well the got the sample today. They are looking for infections, cancer or parasitic infections(non conclusive though). It takes up to 5-7 business days
.
Molly had an attack just before the procedure. They calmed her down with an inhaler but she has to stay the night again
 
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crazyforinfo

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Originally Posted by mews2much

I hope she feels better. They should not have done the test after she got sick though.
It was definitely needed to be done. I know they want to rule out cancer and it's better than a biopsy but it was scary to hear.
 
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crazyforinfo

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Originally Posted by mews2much

I hope its not Cancer. How long as she been this way?
She has been like this for 6 years every spring and fall. This year, just like humans, is the worst. I am just thankful I had that gut feeling cause it looked like a normal cough but something told me it wasn't. She should be home late this afternoon. I will update then with her meds.
 
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