Placement of a chest tube offers several advantages in both the diagnosis and management of this condition. It allows the chest cavity to be more completely emptied than is possible with intermittent drainage by a syringe and needle. It allows cleansing solutions to be flushed into the chest. Once a chest tube is in place, the rate of ongoing fluid formation and changes in the character of the fluid can be assessed. 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.