Is Your Cat Struggling to Breathe? Here's What You Need to Know About Chylothorax

Is Your Cat Struggling to Breathe? Here's What You Need to Know About Chylothorax.

What's Chylothorax?

Chylothorax is a condition where lymph fluid, called chyle, accumulates in the chest cavity, causing breathing difficulties. Lymph is the fluid that flows through tissues, carrying proteins and cells into the bloodstream through small vessels known as lymphatic vessels. When lymph comes from the intestines, it's rich in fat and is called chyle. Chylothorax happens when chyle builds up in the chest cavity, making it hard for the lungs to expand and take in oxygen.

While this condition can happen to any breed of cat, some breeds seem to have a higher occurrence rate, like Siamese and Himalayan cats. Chylothorax is more common in middle-aged and older cats, but it can also occur in very young cats.

What Causes Chylothorax in Cats?

In many cases, the cause of chylothorax in animals is idiopathic, meaning it's unknown. However, some animals are diagnosed with tumors, heart disease, or blood clots, which can increase pressure in the blood and cause chyle to leak from the lymphatic vessels in the chest. Once chylothorax is diagnosed, finding the underlying cause and treating it promptly is crucial.

Symptoms of Chylothorax in Cats

Symptoms to watch out for include:

Coughing
Breathing difficulties
Loss of appetite
Lethargy
Jaundice

Diagnosing Chylothorax in Cats

If your cat is diagnosed with chylothorax, immediate veterinary care is needed. The vet's focus will be on two things: removing as much fluid from the chest as possible to make the cat more comfortable and conducting tests to determine if the cause of chylothorax can be identified. Here's what might be done:

Chest X-rays - To confirm the presence of fluid and help determine the amount. X-rays are usually repeated after some fluid has been removed to see if the lungs can expand normally and to look for any abnormalities or masses in the chest.
Thoracentesis - This involves inserting a small needle between the ribs to draw out fluid, making it easier for the cat to breathe and obtaining a sample for analysis.
Fluid Analysis - Chyle is a milky white fluid with high triglyceride levels. The vet will test the fluid for triglycerides and compare it to blood levels to confirm if it's chyle.
Cytological Analysis - This involves examining the fluid under a microscope to check for abnormal cells, signs of cancer, or infection.

Additional tests might be performed, like chest ultrasounds, echocardiograms (to evaluate heart function), and various blood tests (like heartworm tests).

Additional Tests to Cats

Treating Chylothorax in Cats

If an underlying condition is found, your vet will work with you to decide on the best course of treatment. If you choose to treat the underlying condition, your vet will regularly remove fluid to help your cat breathe easier and keep them comfortable. Your cat may also be put on medication and a low-fat diet.

If no underlying condition is found, your vet might suggest conservative treatment to see if chylothorax resolves on its own. This involves regularly removing fluid from the chest and feeding your cat a low-fat diet. If the fluid doesn't decrease or go away within two to three months, surgery might be recommended.

Home Care and Prevention

Besides keeping an eye on your cat's breathing, you might need to give them various medications. Make sure your vet shows you how to give the medicine and what signs to watch for if your cat is having breathing difficulties.

If your cat refuses to eat a commercial low-fat diet, your vet can provide recipes for homemade low-fat meals.

There's not much you can do to prevent chylothorax. Often, the underlying cause remains unknown. However, chylothorax can be linked to heart failure caused by heartworm disease. Make sure to discuss heartworm prevention with your vet to help keep your cat healthy.

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