Polly our beloved 5 year old Smooth Fox Terrier was diagnosed with the devastating disease Chylothorax. It is a leak of lymph fluid from the Thoracic duct into the chest, the cause of hers is unknown but it results in fluid building up in her chest until she cannot breathe. It was diagnosed at the end of May this year. Our wonderful vets tried experimental surgery to stop the leak with a Thoracic duct ligation and a Pericardectomy, a major operation to tie off the leak and to reduce flow. Initially, it seemed successful and she came home with a chest drain in place which I drained several times a day. Sadly, although the flow decreased it is still building up.

Since then we have been treating her palliatively at home. We have her on a low fat diet with Rutin as this is recommended to lessen the production of the Chyle fluid, plus extra vitamins and minerals. The chest drain was left in place and she has been so good at allowing us to drain her several times a day.

We had a major scare when the drain came out and the wound was leaking and letting air in. Fortunately, we managed to dress it and rushed her to the vets in time for another drain to be placed. We then looked for a long term solution and discovered a PleuralPort which is a drain that is placed internally so infection and accidental removal is reduced. Polly then had another operation on 26th July 2017 to place this port. She came home with a new kit for us to access the drain with a special needles called a huber needles which are very expensive but the only type that can be used.This went well for a couple of days and again she tolerated us doing it (numbing cream is put on the skin first) like the trooper she is. However once again problems have occurred and she had to have another emergency chest drain via a needle into her chest as she was really struggling to breathe. Yet again she has fought back and our vet has flushed and stabilised the PleuralPort.

We and our two children are realists and do not want her to suffer unnecessarily, however when the fluid is removed she is a very lively, happy and bouncy 5yr old who has a real joy for life and as long as she wants to fight we will support her all we can. I am more than willing to continue with the difficult and expensive regime of draining her in the hope that whatever caused this Idiopathic Chylothorax will leave as suddenly as it came. There are several cases of this happening we just need time and help with funds as we have used up all our savings and the insurance does not cover the full cost. We would also be so grateful for any help or advice as this is a cruel, devastating and little known disease.