[rkmerkel]

My 9 year-old Wheaten Terrier, Ginger, has had four instances of her heart lining filling with fluid. The first three cases were six months apart, and each time we got her "tapped" to remove the fluid from the heart, as well as the fluid that had begun accumulating in the chest and abdomen. There has only been two weeks now between the thrid and the fourth episode, and I am trying to get advice from others who have gone through this.

A cardiologist looked at her heart this time and found no mass, but there is a possibility that the heart lining could have a type of cancer that can only be detected by doing a biopsy. Another possibility is that it can be happening for no reason (this is callled idiopathic pericardial effusion, and it's amazing but it does happen in dogs and they have no reason as to why). The vet indicated I could have a procedure done whereby a "window" is cut in the lining of the heart to relieve the buildup the next time this happens, and perhaps this could be an answer for Ginger, assuming that it is not cancer.

Since I don't know what's wrong exactly, either cancer or just un-explained episdoes, I am looking to try to manage it for now, since the procedure is invasive and expensive. If it is something that is happening for no reason, I'd like to see if I can make a change in her life to prevent it from happening again, or at least slow down the next episode when she needs to be tapped again.

Has anyone come across this, and do you have any advice? It's so strange that in some cases it can't be linked to anything. I can't help but wonder if I can control it a little through lifestyle. Like, taking the exercise level down a bit, trying different diets, etc. I just want my baby to be happy, and not have to suffer through this.

For your reference, here are some of the things I notice when an episode is coming on. Loss of appetite, shortness of breath, drinks a ton of water, and sometimes vomits.

Also, does anyone have any linkage between pericardial effusion and Cushing's disease? Ginger went through a previous medical issue whereby the doctors think she could have some Cushing's symptoms.

Thank you for reading this, any help you can give me!!