Thank you for your time in answering all of our questions. This forum has been a wonderful resource.
I have a colleague's dog who has had pleural effusion since 8/07/09. She is a 9yr fs Sheltie. The effusion has been extensively worked up with fluid analysis, cytolgy, biopsies, double cavity CT scans and thorascopy. The biopsies of the pericardium and pleura came back as chronic, severe inflammation. The dog currently has a vascular access port in the thoracic cavity with a drain that opens to the exterior. She gets 160ml of clear fluid every 4 days. Has been on high doses of Prednisone for 4 weeks with no change to the pleural effusion. I had placed her on Wu ling san and pinellia, citrus, poria and licorice 6 weeks ago with no change. She is energetic, happy, and has a propensity to gain weight. She has a slight decrease in energy on day 4 when she needs to have the fluid removed. She has a hx of elbow djd.
Her tongue is pale pink with slight lavender in the middle. Her pulses are toned and firm.
I am looking for any food suggestions, acupuncture, and herbal suggestions. I was thinking of Xu Fu Zhu Yu Tang to move the fluid from the chest?
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely, Kristin
Kristin Rennie DVM, CVA
Dover Veterinary Hospital
Dover, NH 03820