does anyone know why a dog can have water on his lungs the vets are stumped,could it be a fungus ?

Question

my dog had pneumonia &it was cleared but the fluid is still there and he is very weak

Answer 1

This condition is most common in Boxers, Great Danes, Dobermans, Cocker Spaniels and Springers..
Dialated Cardiomyopathy> http://www.sniksnak.com/doghealth/heartfailure.html

Chylothorax is uncommon and was misdiagnosed in my son in law's dog..It required having the lungs drained more than daily..Afghan Hounds, and Mastiffs having an increased relative risk for development of chylothorax.You might ask your vet if he has considered this..> http://www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/clerk/Rockwell/
When a disease stumps the local vets, Dr. Mike suggests asking for a referral to your nearest veterinary teaching hospital..

Answer 2

EXCELLENT answer, Jeremy!!!

To the asker: You are wasting your time here, as there is NO WAY you can give a detailed-enough history or provide enough test and physical exam results for anyone to make a diagnosis online....not even a veterinarian. Nothing replaces putting one's hands, eyes, and ears on the patient directly. If your vets are stumped, they should OFFER you a referal to a specialist in cardiopulmonary problems and/or internal medicine. If they don't, ASK for one.

To the last poster: Ummm....most of us are QUITE familiar with the type cardiomyopathy you mentioned, thanks. I'm sure they've considered it, as it's one of the first things we look for. ;-)

Chylothorax is not that rare...it's commonly seen in trauma and tumor cases, in fact. I've seen several cases, as have most of my colleagues. Even new graduates are familiar with it, as it is covered pretty well in our training and on our boards. If it was misdiagnosed, you just got unlucky with your veterinarian. He/she must have slept through a LOT of classes if it was missed, lol. Sorry that happened to you....it's pretty darn easy to diagnose, actually. All it takes is a simple needle aspirate of the thoracic fluid...it's milky white instead of the usual types of fluid seen in the chest, and is easily confirmed as chyle by a quick lab analysis in the clinic. There's certainly never any harm in asking to be sure it has been considered, however. :-)

Answer 3

If the vets are stumped, why do you think random people on the internet will know without even looking at your dog?

Answer 4

Chylothorax is rare..so most vets are not familiar with it..ask your vet about it..

There is such a wide userbase on line here..that just every now and then you can hit the jackpot and find the help you need..Hopfully you will hit the jackpot this time and get the helpful answer.

Answer 5

congestive heart failure
lung infection
pneumonia
renal insuffiency
there are many reasons If your vet is stumped I would be looking for a second opinion.