My dog could not breathe. Told he had fluid around heart & lung, & minor heart disease. What caused fluid?

At the age of 2, Max was diagnosed with hypothyroid (no thyroid hormones in his body). Recently, he developed a bad disc in his back, but was relieved by prednisone and an anti-inflammatory. He was fine, until suddently his trachea collapsed and did not revert to normal. He developed a bad cough, which led to him not being able to breathe. The hospital said he had fluid around the sack of his heart and around his lungs. He also has "minor" heart disease, but does not need medicine for that. The veterinarian said that they feel that Max has an "ill defying type of cancer going on somewhere in his body." The took a fluid sample, but I could not afford $3-5,000 to have him analyzed. Without the sample, how can they tell Max has cancer? And is there any other reason a little dog would develope fluid around his heart and lung?

My dog had congestive heart failure, and that builds fluid around the lungs. It means the heart doesnt pump right. They can go without medicine for that until it starts to get worse. They treat it with a diuretic at first- lasix. Maybe his fluid is from the trachea problem.

I wonder if the hypthyroid has something to do with it in his case. Does he take anything for that?

I know with heart problems, salt is bad. In people, salt has iodine which helps your thyroid, so I'm wondering if he takes something with salt that might aggravate the heart.

Is he a purebreed? It sounds very complicated. Heres a link on medicines
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/pharmacy...

Maybe you should sue if you paid for him. That's disgraceful that he has so many problems. You might get a lawyer that would to it for free cause he cares about animals too.

Best wishes.

awww im so sorry about poor max =[ i really hope he feels better, i'll keep him in my prayers.

my rat had a similar problem, her lungs filled with fluids. i think it's a bodily reaction, almost similar to a build up of scar tissue. im not sure what would cause that type of reaction, but the body would probably be trying to fight something off or repair a malfunction

I am so sorry that Max is so ill. At two years old that's just not fair. I am sure that you love him very, very much but sometimes the most loving thing you can do for a dog so ill is to have him put down. Again I am so sorry.

Like anybody on this site knows, unless they're a certified vet. Talk to a professional.

Our cat died of congestive heart disease, thats where they get fluid around the heart and lungs.