"Jack" was a 10 year old Rottweiller who presented to Veazie Veterinary Clinic with fluid in his abdomen. His lab work showed Jack to be anemic but otherwise healthy.

Abdominal radiographs showed no tumor in his abdomen. Chest radiographs showed an enlarged heart shadow.

Jack's echocardiogram or ultrasound of his heart showed pericardial effusion or fluid within the sac surrounding his heart known as the pericardium.

Dr. Cloutier removed the fluid with a large catheter but it returned. In June Jack's owners opted for a procedure to remove the pericardium and allow the fluid to flow into the chest cavity where Jack's body would reabsorb it.

Jack went home the day after surgery and has done well ever since.