The chest tube is very helpful in preventing further pus accumulation in the chest cavity. Antibiotic therapy is also a cornerstone of treatment. A sample of the pus is sent to the laboratory for identification of the bacteria and determination of an appropriate antibiotic. Because lab tests can tell us which antibiotic is best, the cat's chances of recovery are greatly improved when the fluid is cultured. Of particular significance would be cats infected with the feline leukemia virus or feline immunodeficiency virus .
Adhesions often lead to reduced lung function in some patients.
Most cats require drainage through the chest tube for about 5-10 days. They are almost always hospitalized during that phase of treatment. When pus accumulation stops, the tube is removed and the cat is sent home to complete treatment. The complete treatment usually takes 4-8 weeks. If it is stopped too soon, relapse may occur.