When treating dogs and cats with pyothorax, there are many benefits of performing pleural lavage via thoracostomy tubes. These include:
- Decreases pleural fluid viscosity
- Facilitates fluid drainage
- Decreases tube obstruction
- Dilution and reduction of bacteria and inflammatory mediators
- Breakdown of adhesions
If you have a case of canine or feline pyothorax, consider placing thoracostomy tubes or referral to NVS for this procedure to be performed.