It's been 3 weeks since Minnie (age 10) has been diagnosed with Chylothorax. (Chest cavity fills with fluid...pressures the lungs..cause of leak is unknown).
We've had her drained 2x. This disease is tough as after you get them drained...they breathe better thus start acting normal, then it starts again. Bless her heart, she FINALLY took her supplements wrapped in Whiska's soft treats after trying EVERYTHING... so that was a HUGE release of stress for all.
We have decided against the shunt as well as invasive surgery as depending what you read, it's a mixed cure rate. Best case scenario is if she'd be one of the lucky ones to keep draining as needed in hopes her meds and her own defense has a chance to heal the leak... some cases it happens...but again... not a great success rate.
This last time of draining, even though no pain with the actual procedure , the anesthetic knocked her for a loop for a couple days of laziness...poor eating, etc, thus she's losing weight. It's been a week, and fluid is evident again due to her abdominal breathing. Last night I was looking up at home euthanization as we have Mikki, her littermate sister and I feel she needs to be present if we chose to do it.
This morning... Minnie decides she has an appetite of course and eats well, plus plays with her favorite hairband...so I don't call today. Wouldn't you think if she is eating, and at least making an effort to play... we should assume she is uncomfortable, but not to the point where she's distressed? I cannot imagine ending things when she's acting more "herself", but I also don't want to push it to the point that she does suffer. Another option..she has an appt on Tuesday... could get her drained yet again, but .... we always will be thinking, maybe one more time....maybe one more time and it will work. I know I read another post where her kitty was 14 and she felt guilt... I would not hesitate to put Min down if she was 14... what a long beautiful life if you have them for 14 years.. never easy...but definitely would be a help with my decision if she were "older" and really "suffering".
We've had her drained 2x. This disease is tough as after you get them drained...they breathe better thus start acting normal, then it starts again. Bless her heart, she FINALLY took her supplements wrapped in Whiska's soft treats after trying EVERYTHING... so that was a HUGE release of stress for all.
We have decided against the shunt as well as invasive surgery as depending what you read, it's a mixed cure rate. Best case scenario is if she'd be one of the lucky ones to keep draining as needed in hopes her meds and her own defense has a chance to heal the leak... some cases it happens...but again... not a great success rate.
This last time of draining, even though no pain with the actual procedure , the anesthetic knocked her for a loop for a couple days of laziness...poor eating, etc, thus she's losing weight. It's been a week, and fluid is evident again due to her abdominal breathing. Last night I was looking up at home euthanization as we have Mikki, her littermate sister and I feel she needs to be present if we chose to do it.
This morning... Minnie decides she has an appetite of course and eats well, plus plays with her favorite hairband...so I don't call today. Wouldn't you think if she is eating, and at least making an effort to play... we should assume she is uncomfortable, but not to the point where she's distressed? I cannot imagine ending things when she's acting more "herself", but I also don't want to push it to the point that she does suffer. Another option..she has an appt on Tuesday... could get her drained yet again, but .... we always will be thinking, maybe one more time....maybe one more time and it will work. I know I read another post where her kitty was 14 and she felt guilt... I would not hesitate to put Min down if she was 14... what a long beautiful life if you have them for 14 years.. never easy...but definitely would be a help with my decision if she were "older" and really "suffering".
