chylothorax

such a sad condition. Minnie was diagnosed 10 days ago.. a milky substance called chyle forms in the chest cavity and squeezes the lungs. She was drained at diagnosis and today was the follow up in which she is being drained again. She acts normal other than her heavy abdominal breathing and there us a chance she can overcome it with the supplement rutin and continuous draining until the routin and her body can fight it. We want to give her a chance anyway. She and her sister are 10.

The heart doc actually said today's xray of her lungs were more pleasing to him than 10 days ago... before they looked blunt and rough at the ends and today looked smooth soooo hopes of room to expand of the lungs if the chyle indeed shall be cleared up! (music to this praying mama's ears)Believing good things!

Giving her the supplement 3x a day is very stressful to me and her.. tried everything but compounding it to liquid but cant imagine that being easier! Supplements are just too big, even halved but gotta be given.

Hi MnM,
I was searching the site for lymphoma, for my sweet baby Meadow and just happened to see this, I couldn't believe my eyes! My cat Sissy had Chylothorax, no one I talked to ever heard of it! I lost my sweet Sissy 14 years ago to this awful disease! Back then there was nothing they could do so i am so happy for you that you found something to help your baby, it makes me sad that it was not available for her, Sissy was treated at The University Of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, one of the best teaching hospitals in the Country it gave me such hope having her there. What are you doing to treat Minnie besides the Rutin and what exactly does it do?
Rosie, missing my sweet Sissy

Rutin is a "people" supplement that promotes a lot of circulation and healing... for example a lot of people take it for hemroids and it helps within a few days..as well as helps bruising...seems to really have great healing quaities. It can assist the cat by helping it move the fluid from the chest cavity as well as mend possible "leaks" and support the lungs from what I gather.

Today Min had 200cc's of fluid drawn...I knew her breathing was labored but was kinda disappointed she had that much in there as the first time it was 67 cc's.

I'm not sure how much of a fight we will persue with her. The rutin is a lifetime thing... however doses may be lessened if she kicks this fluid, but even so.... I assume she'll get used to the pills as I get used to giving them, but right now, it's a strain on everybody with the pills plus if we need to drain her every 2 weeks (or less) as you have to keep that all up in hopes it finally kicks in and she beats it....but it's of course not a guarantee. The vet seemed to think if it doesn't slow down within a few weeks she would require the surgery as an only hope. The heart doc's wife, actually claims an 80% survival rate when she does the surgery...100% on dogs, she's a "guru" at it and she's doing a dog at my vet's place in 2 weeks and my vet said to think about havin Min done at the same time. Just don't know if I want to put her through something so invasive. Due to my stress level over all of this... can't eat... stomach in knots... always looking to check her breathing.. not to mention making her fast for the drainings when we have another kitty here....stress of the vet visits... finally 2 days ago realized I cannot take this all on my shoulders and felt disappointed in myself for not "relying on my faith" and being strong.

The hardest part is she acts quite normal with her routines and cuddles, and all...even plays a bit...eats... it's the procedures and meds that I dread.

I'm so sorry about your kitty....there may not have been anything that could have been done for her even today... it all depends on the kitty's system and if they can fight it.