What causes pleural effusion in senior cats with hyperthyroidism?

Oh my. Poor girl. The most pressing issue here is the fluid on the lungs. You need to find out the underling cause for the fluid and hopefully it is something that is treatable. You will have to start with chest radiographs to find out possible causes and treatment options. The hyperthyroidism can be managed with medications until then. Hyperthyroidism in cats is typically treated with either the prescription diet Hill's Y/D or with Felimazole. I hope that your pet Lucy is able to stabilize her condition soon! Best wishes and take care.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am so sorry for your loss! I do see pleural effusion (fluid) on the X-ray but I would also suspect a mass, which is likely the cause of the fluid. That could be why your Vet couldn't get any. Most of the white on the X-ray is likely the mass and only a small amount of fluid. I wish you the best!

I'm so sorry to hear that Max is going through this. I'm sorry to say that unless the cause of the pleural effusion is found and treated, it will continue to come back. If your vet sent some of the pleural effusion to the lab for testing, hopefully they will be able to give us an idea of what is causing the pleural effusion. Sometimes we also have to do an ultrasound of the chest and/or abdomen to find the cause. Good luck! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

The heart condition is likely a sequel to the hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism speeds up the heart rate, and that increases the thickness of the heart muscle which will enlarge the heart. Please do not experiment with herbal medicines. Hyperthyroidism, if not controlled will cause the heart condition to worsen, so it is absolutely necessary to use medications that will work such as thyreostatic medication (the thyroid medications your veterinarian prescribed). The Furosemide will help your cat get rid of the fluid in her lungs. Please listen to your veterinarian. Your kitty can have a good quality of life with the correct medications. This is one case where herbals will not help.

Oh no. Poor kitty. Blood pressure can be affected by either of these conditions, but is impossible to say for sure without getting her blood pressure checked. This is a tough one, because there are so many possible causes for her weakness and slow breathing, but I would have to assume that her underlying heart condition may be the culprit here. Saddle thrombus is also a big concern with cats that have underling heart disease, and can lead to sudden paralysis of the hindlegs, with vocalization (moaning). I know you don't trust the other vets in the area, but it may be worthwhile at least taking her in to see if her blood pressure is indeed the problem. Getting some bloodwork analysis on her may also be indicated, depending on her physical exam findings. We have to keep mind too, that unfortunately CHF patients can only be helped with medication for oh so long, because it does not cure the underlying problem. I hope that Brancinia is going to be ok, but its best to take her in immediately. Waiting for your preferred vet in this situation may be more detrimental to her overall wellbeing than taking her in to determine her current status. I wish you all the best with your furry friend. Take care.

So sorry she is having these problems. It sounds like she should be re-examined by a veterinarian since her signs are not well managed. Your vet may need to add in a blood pressure medication and/or an anti-seizure medication, as well as adjust her thyroid medication. If your vet is not able to manage her disease than your could go to a different vet for a second opinion or even take her to a specialist for an evaluation. Please call your vet an give him/her an update.

I'm sorry to hear that Mittens has not been doing well. I agree that Mittens' chest x-rays appear to be progressing over the past 2 weeks. At this point, either pneumonia is less likely or the bacteria causing a possible pneumonia are resistant to her current antibiotic therapy. Cancer is absolutely a suspicion due to the x-ray progression. Consider asking your vets if they have considered performing either endotracheal or transtracheal washes on Mittens, which would be able to obtain a sample of fluid or cells in the lungs. These samples could be analyzed for cytology (which may be able to diagnose cancer) or culture (to determine if bacteria is present and an appropriate antibiotic). There is a chance that Mittens may not be stable enough to undergo sedation for this procedure, but your vets will be able to examine her to determine if the risks are worth the benefits. I hope that all goes well!