This is the story of
Coco & Chylothorax Disease
October 2005

Our little whippet girlfriend

Coco
has been diagnosed with Chylothorax and lung torsion.
(more links to Chylothorax at bottom of webpage)

Coco in her chic shirt and pj's

Chylothorax is an unpleasant disease which occurs from time to time in animals

"Following digestion the nutrients in food pass across the intestine wall. A duct system of "lymphatic" vessels carries fats that have been absorbed from the intestine through the abdomen and chest, and eventually discharges them into the bloodstream. The fluid that transports them - called chyle - is milky in appearance due to the presence of fat, and the higher the concentration of fat in it the more opaque and white it appears.

Chylothorax occurs when the duct ruptures and chyle leaks into the chest cavity. The build up of fluid within the chest leads to breathing difficulties and treatment involves draining the chyle off the chest and hoping the duct heals itself. Sometimes the condition continuously recurs and surgery is needed to tie the duct off . The success rate is reported to be 50-60% in both dogs and cats treated at referral centres. Reducing fat intake is important during the treatment of this condition to reduce the amount of chyle produced.

The cause of chylothorax is usually unknown, but trauma and heart disorders may be involved, as well as tumours that may erode through the duct. Diagnosis involves XRays and the laboratory examination of chyle removed from the chest cavity".  [  http://www.provet.co.uk/Petfacts/healthtips/chylothorax.htm ]

2005
Wednesday, Oct 12th
Coco has the surgery

The surgeon removed the twisted lobe of one lung
and the thick sack around the heart.

This procedure should help fluids
in her chest drain.

She was in surgery for two hours.

Coco spent the night in intensive care at the
Emergency Veterinary Clinic of Tualatin
and then back to the surgeon
for more tests the next morning.

This is a rare condition for dogs.
The surgeon had only performed this surgery on
three other dogs with this condition and they did not survive.

( but Coco reminded us he practiced on 20 cats
before her and they all survived! )

October 13th:
After spending the night at the
Emergency Veterinary Hospital of Tualatin
(wonderful doctors and staff) and a check up with the surgeon,
Dr. Tim McCarthy at SURGICAL SPECIALTY CLINIC for ANIMALS

Coco is home !!!!!!

She is under house arrest and needs
to stay very quiet for the next week.
She is on a very low fat diet (boring)
and lots of medicines (icky).
She has to wear a surgical
garment (unattractive)
to protect her incisions (owie).

This is where Dr. McCarthy went in
between the ribs and took out
the twisted lung lobe and the heart sac.


Coco got new pajamas
(from Decotogs)
but Marcus thinks he needs to try them on first.

We are all so happy she is home !
Please keep her in your thoughts and prayer
that her recovery is speedy (like she is !)


Sergio and Marcus
are very happy their sister is home !

October 14th:
Coco is resting well at home and trying to do everything the doctor ordered.
Matthew has become an expert at administering pills down her tiny throat and hand feeding her.
Sergio and Marcus are trying to convince her to eat the prescription food or they will !
Fredric is keeping her pillows fluffed up and the blankets warm & tidy.
Coco is very happy to be home with her family.

October 15th:
Coco continues to rest and heal.
She is being a very good patient.
She returns to the surgeon next
Thursday for an evaluation.

Sunday, October 16th:
Coco continues to hang on.
Her plumbing is working better,
but she does not like the prescribed food from the doctor.
The medicines are decreasing her appetite too.
She weighs about 21 pounds.
She is drinking water if we hold the bowl for her.
She seems more comfortable today and
she is taking tiny stretches.
Her tail is wagging again too !

Hang on little tomato !!!




Coco in her hospital garb.


Coco resting in her x-pen. Doctors' orders !

October 19th
GOOD NEWS !!!!!
Coco had a check up today and
her little chest cavity is clear of the chlye fluids !
Dr. McCarthy is very pleased with her progress
and the surgical outcome.
She does need to gain some weight
but it is so hard for a whippet on a low fat diet !!!
We are all very thankful for your kind thoughts
and prayer over the last week.

Thank you all so much,
From her family
Frederic, Matthew, Sergio, Marcus & Coco !

Coco & Dr. McCarthy

SURGICAL SPECIALTY CLINIC for ANIMALS

Coco with Vet Assistant, Michael

The Surgical Specialties Staff


Coco's surgical incisions

Coco's x-rays

Saturday, October 22, 2005
Coco is up and walking.
She is eating more but is still a little bag of bones.
She seems very happy today and is energetic.
We are keeping a very close eye on her.

Coco eating her very low fat diet

Coco in her Decotogs pj's

Coco in her Dog Gone Chic shirt,
a gift from Tricia and Pennier at
www.doggonechic.com
Thank you
Tricia and Pennier

Tuesday, October 25, 2005
We had a scare today.
Coco did not sleep well (and neither did her family).
She was hot and making little puffing sounds.
She was very uncomfortable.

The family rushed her into the see the surgeon
and he took x-rays and her temperature
and pronunced her doing very well.
No fluid in her chest cavity and
she has gained two pounds!

Turns out she was too hot in her jammies and
the house was too warm and
Matthew fed her too much turkey !
So she was just uncomfortable
(like after Thanksgiving nummies).
So we are all happy today.

Coco still has to stay on her low fat diet
but she is being weaned off her medications
except for the Rutin which is supposed
to help ward off the chylothorax disease.
She sees the surgeon again in a month.
Yea ! Coco !


Coco in her Cottage Hound Design pjs

Friday, October 28, 2005
Coco continues to do well.
She is eating more plain low fat kibble
and is getting rowdy.
She can walk outside to potty now
and hang out with her brothers.
She is still in the x-pen when unsupervised.
Coco wants to be
Wonder Woman for Howl - o - Ween !

Sunday, Novemeber 6, 2005
Coco is doing wonderfully.
Her appetite remains hearty
and her energy level is high.
She has gained a bit of weight.
She is very happy ! And so are we !

November 22, 2005
Coco had her thirty day check up and
her chest cavity is free of chyle fluids !
She is happy and well.
Thanks to all who helped Coco mend !

Thanks to Dr. Don McCoy
and medical staff at the
North Portland Animal Clinic

and

special thanks to
Emergency Verterinary Clinic of Tualatin
who cared for Coco the night of her surgery.
Dr. Williams, Dr. Wisniewski & Dr. O'Loughlin are wonderful !

and

Dr. Starita at the Healing Place for Animals.
We are happy she has been part of the
healing process for Coco (and us!)

And a very special thanks to
Dr. Karen Comer, DVM, MS, DipACVIM
of Tacoma, Washington for her moral support and wisdom.
Dr Comer has a whippet boy named Cricket
that she adopted from Whippet Rescue !

Many of you have met Coco
while visiting Free Range Whippets
or while shopping at her family's store,
Cielo Home
Located in The Pearl
Portland, Oregon


Coco's Family
Fredric, Sergio, Marcus, Matthew & Coco

cOcO was adopted from
WRAP (Whippet REscue & Placement
in 2004, by Fred and Matthew.
She is a very lucky girl !

Thank you for all your pawsitive
thoughts and prayers !
click here
to email Coco and family a note

* * *
Coco's Photo Album

Coco and her bunny

\
Coco sunbathing with her brothers, Sergio and Marcus

Coy Coco

Coco and Marcus

Coco and her football

click here to email Coco
and family a note or question

Coco celebrated her 8th birthday
in July 2009!

*
LINKS
to information about
Chylothorax in animals

Chylothorax in Animals article

Information about Chylothorax

More information about Chylothorax

World Congress Report 2006 - Chylothorax Surgery

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