Pyometra

Pyometra is a very serious condition affecting the uterus of non-spayed female dogs and occasionally cats. The disease most commonly affects dogs 7 years of age and older, but can be seen at any age.

How does a pyometra develop? Due to the influence of hormones, particularly after a heat cycle, the uterus can become inflamed and allow fluid to accumulate. This changing environment inside the uterus creates an ideal location for bacteria to grow. As the uterus becomes contaminated with more and more bacteria it becomes an internal abscess.

Signs of this condition include lethargy, a decrease in appetite, increased thirst, a fever and sometimes vomiting. A pus-filled vaginal discharge with a foul odor may exist if the cervix is relaxed or open. If the cervix is closed there will be no discharge and a tremendous amount of infected material will be built up inside the uterus. These animals are usually more seriously ill and need emergency medical attention.

Antibiotics alone cannot treat these infections. The treatment of choice for pyometra is the surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus as in a spay. Intravenous antibiotics and fluid therapy are required to prevent dehydration and shock.

If the condition is caught early enough, treatment for pyometra is usually successful. However, elective sterilization is the best means of prevention. It is certainly wiser to spay a young healthy animal than to perform an emergency procedure on an older, seriously ill pet.