 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / July 2005Chylothorax, Lymphoma and diagnosing
A friend's cat was recently diagnosed with Chylothorax. The doctors ran some tests but can't find a cause. An ultrasound was done on the heart and it looks healthy. I understand that many cases of Chylothorax are idiopathic, but it makes me wonder about something. Is it possible that this cat has Lymphoma that just hasn't been diagnosed/found? With animals, isn't it harder to detect cancer because they don't have all the tests and screenings like they do with people? People over a certain age often go in once a year for cancer screenings (mammograms, etc.), but animals don't have that luxury. >A friend's cat was recently diagnosed with Chylothorax. The doctors ran >some tests but can't find a cause. An ultrasound was done on the heart [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >in once a year for cancer screenings (mammograms, etc.), but animals >don't have that luxury. It is just as easy to run all the same tests on animals, you just have to be willing to pay for them. If you are worried that it could be lymphoma you have to come out and say this to your vet, otherwise they are unlikely to ask you about the tests as it puts people who cant afford it in an awkward position. Vanessa If you are worried that it could be lymphoma you have > to come out and say this to your vet, otherwise they are unlikely to ask you > about the tests as it puts people who cant afford it in an awkward position. .........If there are tests that can be done to definitively diagnose an illness the vet is bound by medical ethics to tell you. The owner deserves the opportunity to make a choice about the matter. buglady take out the dog before replying > otherwise they are unlikely to ask you > about the tests as it puts people who cant afford it in an awkward > position. Gotta disagree with you there. You always offer the Cadillac but sell them the Yugo if that's all they can or are willing to do. > Gotta disagree with you there. You always offer the Cadillac but sell > them the Yugo if that's all they can or are willing to do. Absolutely. To assume that someone can't afford what is needed is perhaps one of the biggest faux pas in veterinary medicine. All options should be laid out for the owner and then the onus is put on them to decided what they can afford, or what *they* think is best for their pets. We've had clients who drive sports cars and dress nicely who truly can't afford some tests. Then there are those who drive '85 Chevys and look like they don't do laundry pull out a wad of bills and ask to have everything necessary be done. Personally, as an owner I'd be offended if I wasn't given all of the options because it was perceived I couldn't afford it. I'd wonder if they thought I was stupid as well. -Sharon . Personally, as an owner I'd be offended if I wasn't given > all of the options because it was perceived I couldn't afford it. I'd wonder > if they thought I was stupid as well. ......yeah, amen to that, and I'd be gone! buglady take out the dog before replying > A friend's cat was recently diagnosed with Chylothorax. The doctors ran > some tests but can't find a cause. An ultrasound was done on the heart [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > makes me wonder about something. Is it possible that this cat has > Lymphoma that just hasn't been diagnosed/found? ...........Could be, but if they've already done ultrasound of the area it may not be lymphoma. http://www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/clerk/Rockwell/ Differential diagnoses for chylothorax in cats. * Cardiomyopathy * Heartworm disease * Idiopathic * Lymphangiectasia * Mediastinal neoplasia (lymphoma, thymoma) * Trauma and rupture of the thoracic duct Ultrasonography and echocardiography may be useful in identifying an underlying cause of the effusion, such as cardiomyopathy or mediastinal neoplasia. .......have they examined the fluid microscopically? http://www.vetinfo.com/catrespir.html By withdrawing some of the fluid from a pleural effusion and examining it for cells, protein levels, color, odor and specific gravity, it is often possible to make a pretty good guess as to the cause of the fluid accumulation. If the fluid contains cancer cells, if it is a true chylous exudate or if it looks like and smells like pus examination of the fluid gives a strong clue as to what is going on. Feline lymphomas: http://maxshouse.com/feline_lymphoma_and_leukemias.htm >With animals, isn't it harder to detect cancer because they don't have all the tests and > screenings like they do with people? People over a certain age often go > in once a year for cancer screenings (mammograms, etc.), but animals > don't have that luxury. ........it's not a matter of luxury. There is no PSA test for prostate cancer for dogs. Neuter them and incidence goes down. Bitches don't need mammograms if they've been spayed as the incidence goes way down. Dogs/cats don't get bowel cancer - a very rare occurence at least. The only thing that's readily available for humans and not necessarily for pets is an MRI. If one looked around though, there might be a facility available that does them on pets on off hours. buglady take out the dog before replying |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2009 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.