Recovery depends largely upon the cause of the condition. Many cats do not live long enough for the fluid to be removed from the pleural space. If your cat withstands the diagnostic process and fluid is successfully removed, his outlook is guarded but fair.
How is pleural effusion diagnosed?
During a physical examination, your veterinarian may observe symptoms such as pale or blue-colored gums, difficulty breathing, and a faster heartbeat that could indicate a pleural effusion. Your veterinarian may notice that the fluid in your cat’s chest is muffleing the sounds of its heart and lungs when using a stethoscope to listen to its chest.
Usually, pleural effusion is identified by chest radiographs, or X-rays. Your veterinarian can detect the presence of pleural effusion based on several distinctive findings on radiographs. Ultrasound may occasionally be utilized to detect pleural effusions as well. This method works particularly well in cases where there are minimal amounts of pleural effusion.
The most common method for determining the cause of the pleural effusion is thoracocentesis. During this process, your veterinarian will extract fluid straight from the chest cavity using a sterile needle. This frequently offers prompt relief from some of the breathing problems brought on by pleural effusion and yields a fluid sample suitable for testing. The pleural fluid’s chemical parameters will be evaluated, and the fluid will be examined under a microscope to check for abnormal cells. Your veterinarian can identify the underlying cause of your cat’s pleural effusion and create a successful treatment plan with the aid of tests on the pleural fluid.
To identify the underlying cause of your cat’s pleural effusion, more testing might be required.
What is pleural effusion?
The term “pleural effusion” describes the unusual buildup of fluid in the chest cavity. The fluid is located in the pleural sac rather than the lungs, so the lungs are essentially floating in a fluid-filled chest. Because this fluid takes up room in the chest, the lungs are unable to expand to their proper capacity.
Treatment of Pleural Effusion in Cats
If a cat’s breathing is significantly affected by a pleural effusion, a chest tap is frequently the first course of treatment. Chest taps can provide immediate symptomatic relief in addition to aiding in the diagnosis of the underlying cause. If the fluid comes back, the veterinarian can perform these chest taps again or insert a chest tube to allow for more constant drainage in your cat.
FAQ
Can a cat survive fluid in lungs?
How do you treat fluid around a cat’s lungs?
What is the prognosis for pleural effusion in cats?
Can fluid in the lungs go away by itself?