Generalized edema and chylothorax in a 5-year-old female intact chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera)

A 5-year-old female intact chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) presented with increased respiratory rate and effort. There was severe generalized subcutaneous edema, it was most pronounced along the ventral aspect of the body. Diagnostic imaging revealed bicavitary effusion and a subsequent thoracentesis aspirate yielded a serous transudate. Treatment with diuretics improved clinical signs for several days; however, the chinchilla presented again in respiratory distress, at which time thoracentesis was performed and 30 mL of chylous effusion was removed. Multiple thoracenteses were performed to alleviate clinical signs over a 1-month period following the removal of the chylous effusion. The chinchilla was eventually euthanized due to declining condition. Severe fibrosis of the stomach and low plasma protein were postmortem findings; however, an etiology for the fluid accumulation was not found.