Diagnose and Treat Pyothorax in Cats

Sometimes, a cat will develop a problem called pleural effusions, which means its chest cavity fills up with fluid. Pyothorax means the chest cavity has filled up with a specific fluid: pus. The cat then has trouble breathing. This condition is usually due to an infection, which needs to be treated by draining fluids and treating the infection with antibiotics.

Steps

Watching for Symptoms of Pyothorax

1. Look for difficulty breathing. One of the primary symptoms of pyothorax is your cat having issues breathing. When a cat develops pyothorax, pus fills the chest cavity. In turn, the lungs cannot expand, which makes it difficult for the cat to breathe.
   • Your cat will likely have its mouth open, and it will breathe in quick, short breaths. Breathing may be painful, as well, and you may notice that it uses its sides more in breathing.
   • If you notice blue gums, it's time for an emergency visit to the vet, as that denotes a severe lack of oxygen.
2. Pay attention to disinterest in food. One symptom of pyothorax is your cat isn't eating properly. In fact, you may even notice your cat has lost some weight before other symptoms become severe.
   • If your cat ever stops eating, it's a good idea to take them to the vet, as it's usually an indication of an underlying problem.
   • It's possible your cat may have other related problems, such as vomiting and dehydration.
3. Notice fever and lethargy. You may notice your cat is running hot due to a fever. In addition, your cat may exhibit other common signs of fever and sickness, such as low energy and depression.
4. Watch for your cat resting in odd positions. Because your cat is having trouble breathing, you may notice it's sitting in odd positions. It may take a "bulldog stance," with the front legs wide apart. You may notice the cat has trouble sleeping because it has to keep sitting up to breathe easier. It may also take a hunched-over position.
5. Understand the causes. One common cause is any penetrating wound on the chest, including bites from other animals and stab wounds from foreign objects. It can also happen if your cat swallowed something that penetrated the area internally, leading to infection. If you know your cat has had one of these issues recently, it could have been the cause of the pyothorax.
   • However, other infections that you can't see can lead to this problem, too.

Seeing the Veterinarian

1. Expect a short exam. Often, a cat will be treated before the problem is properly diagnosed. That is, when a cat comes in with breathing problems, the first thing the vet will do is establish that the it is having respiratory problems. Then, the vet will take emergency treatment measures before moving on to other diagnostic tools.
   • In some cases, the case may be mild enough to proceed to other tests first.
2. Be ready for x-rays. X-rays are often needed so the vet can determine exactly where the fluid is. It may be on both sides of the chest or just one. Your vet may also be able to determine if the cat has a foreign object in its chest, as well as determine if something else is the cause of the infection from the x-rays.
3. Expect other tests for common infections. If your vet cannot determine the cause, they may want to check for Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Disorder. These diseases can lead to infections, and they will need to be treated, as well.
   • Your cat may also receive blood tests to determine if other things are out of balance, such as electrolytes.
4. Ask if the fluid needs to be cultured. Once the cat is out of danger, the vet will often take a sample of the fluid. The fluid will be tested to determine what kind of infection the cat has, making it easier to decide on an antibiotic.

Treating Pyothorax

1. Stabilize the breathing. The vet will give the cat oxygen to help with the breathing. Next, the vet will give it medications such as sedatives to help calm it down before moving on with diagnosis and treatment.
   • Cats with severe respiratory problems are an emergency situation, so stabilizing breathing first gets it out of trouble. Then the vet can diagnose and treat what caused the problem.
2. Drain the fluid. When a cat has pyothorax, the first treatment after stabilizing its breathing is to get rid of the fluid causing the problem.
   • Often, hospitalization is required for this procedure. Your cat can come out of the hospital when its chest cavity stops reforming the pus, and the cat is interested in eating on its own.
   • Your vet will likely give your cat pain medications for this procedure.
3. Give antibiotics. Typically, your cat will begin intravenous antibiotics at the clinic or hospital. These infections can run deep, so your cat will need extensive antibiotics, even when you bring it home. At home, you should be able to give oral antibiotics.
4. Treat other symptoms. In addition to treating the infection, your cat may need other secondary treatments, such as intravenous fluids. Your cat may also need to be force-fed by the vet for a few days if it is not interested in eating.
5. Ask about surgery. If other interventions have failed, including chest tubes and antibiotics, your cat may need surgery. The point of the surgery is to discover if a foreign object is in the chest, leading to the infection. The object is removed to help with recovery.

Sources and Citations

See also

• Become a Holistic Veterinarian
• Choose a Vet
• Evaluate Your Veterinarian
• Find a Veterinary Dermatologist
• Find a Holistic Veterinarian
• Care for a Bandage or Splint on a Cat
• Detect and Treat Heart Murmurs in Cats
• Diagnose and Treat Spondylosis Deformans in Cats
• Diagnose and Treat Seborrhea in Cats
• Give First Aid to a Cat After a Fall

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