10/16/2026
Helping a dog breathe again
At AV Veterinary Center in Lancaster, CA, our veterinarian did an ultrasound-guided thoracocentesis on a dog with pleural effusion. That means draining fluid from around the lungs. 🐶🫁
What is pleural effusion?
Fluid builds up in the chest cavity and squeezes the lungs, so they can’t fully expand. Dogs with it often:
• Breathe fast or with effort
• Breathe with their belly or sit with elbows out
• Cough, tire easily or won’t lie down
• Have pale or bluish gums in severe cases
How we help
With ultrasound guidance, we can see the fluid in real time and drain it safely. Many dogs breathe easier right away. We also send the fluid for analysis to find the cause, such as heart disease, infection, cancer, trauma or chylothorax.
🚨 Trouble breathing is an emergency. If your dog is breathing hard or fast at rest, call us right away.
📍 AV Veterinary Center, Lancaster, CA
📞 (661)-729-1500. Serving Lancaster, Palmdale and the Antelope Valley
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