Pyometra - A Preventable Situation!

Overview

Pyometra is a severe bacterial infection of the uterus that occurs in unspayed female dogs and cats that can be potentially life threatening.

When a pet is in heat, the dominant hormone affecting the uterus is estrogen. At the end of the heat cycle, estrogen levels drop and progesterone (another hormone) levels rise. Over the course of several heat cycles, progesterone can cause changes in the uterine lining, such as thickened tissue and cysts. This creates the ideal environment for bacteria to flourish.

Pyometras occur when bacteria ascend from the vagina into the uterus and multiply. The body attempts to fight off the infection by sending white blood cells to the uterus, which creates the fluid buildup.

Pyometra is described as being “open” or “closed.” With an “open” pyometra, the cervix (the portion of the uterus that connects with the vagina) is open. The fluid that forms in the uterus as a result of the infection can drain through the vagina and out of the body.

When the cervix is closed, as in “closed” pyometra, the fluid in the uterus cannot drain through the vagina, so it builds up, stretching the uterine walls and can potentially rupture the uterus. If this occurs, the infection spreads to the abdomen and can spread into the bloodstream leading to septic shock and often resulting in death. A pyometra can weigh as much as 10 pounds.

The top picture is a normal uterus during a routine spay surgery and the lower picture is an emergency pyometra removal surgery.

The condition is most common in older, unspayed female dogs that have never had a litter, but it can occur in any female dog or cat that has not been spayed. The youngest dog that Swaim’s veterinarians have diagnosed was 9 months old. In dogs, pyometras are most likely to happen in the first few weeks to months after a heat cycle.

Symptoms and Identification

Pets that have open pyometra may or may not have a foul-smelling white, yellow, or blood-tinged discharge from the vagina. Otherwise, the signs can be somewhat vague, such as:

·         Lethargy (tiredness)

·         Loss of appetite

·         Vomiting

·         Increased drinking and urinating

·         Abdominal swelling or “bloated” appearance

·         Fever – which may or may not be present

Your veterinarian will most likely recommend bloodwork and abdominal x-rays (radiographs) to visualize the uterus. Occasionally, an abdominal ultrasound may be needed to get a better view of the uterus.

Treatment

Spay (surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries) is the best treatment for a pyometra. In most cases, this is an emergency surgery that must be performed before the uterus ruptures or the infection spreads to other parts of the body. Because it is a more complicated surgery than a typical spay in a healthy dog or cat, it will most likely be more expensive. The pet may also need IV fluids and antibiotics.

Prevention

Early spaying of female pets prevents pyometra.

This article has been adapted from Vetstreet.