Pyometra in dogs: symptoms and treatment

Pyometra is an acute infectious disease in which purulent discharge accumulates in the dog’s uterus. How to recognize the development of the disease in time and protect your pet from serious consequences?

Pyometra in dogs most often develops during diestrus, a few months after estrus, while the amount of the hormone progesterone in the body of the animal is increased. Doctors distinguish two types of uterine inflammation in dogs: open and closed. As a rule, open-type pyometra, when the cervix is ​​open, flows more easily and is easier to treat. Without medical intervention, the disease can go into an acute phase. This threatens with the development of peritonitis, septic processes, cardiac arrhythmia, problems with urination and other complications.

Reasons for the development of pyometra

Pyometra usually develops in animals older than 5 years, but dogs of any age are at risk. The main reason for the development of the disease is a change in the hormonal background of the animal, associated with an increase in the level of progesterone, which stimulates the production of mucus in the uterus. Because of this, an immune failure occurs in the body and an inflammatory process begins. Later, pus accumulates in the uterine cavity, and toxins are absorbed into the blood, which leads to severe intoxication of the body.

Symptoms of the disease

The development of pyometra of the closed type usually begins more acutely than with the open variety. However, in both cases, symptoms appear that indicate inflammatory processes in the dog’s body:

• decreased appetite
• fever,
• lethargy, drowsiness,
• unusually frequent urination
• increased thirst,
• dehydration,
• vomiting.

A little later, symptoms of pyometra appear:

• bloating,
• muscle wall tension
• pain when touching the abdomen in the uterus.

With an open form of pyometra, the main symptoms are:

• inflamed loop in a dog,
• discharge of pus from the loop, usually with an unpleasant odor,
• slight rise in temperature
• rapid fatigue of the animal,
• restless behavior.

Diagnosis and treatment of pyometra

At the initial stage of the disease, it is difficult to understand what exactly is happening to the animal, so it is important to immediately consult a doctor and start treatment in a timely manner. The veterinarian will prescribe an ultrasound of the dog’s abdominal cavity and determine the form of the disease.

If an animal is diagnosed with closed-type pyometra, surgery is usually performed to remove the uterus and ovaries. The open form usually does not require surgery, and treatment may be limited to medical therapy.

Preventive measures

Timely castration – this is the main and main measure for the prevention of pyometra in bitches. This is the only way to reduce the risk of pyometra to a minimum. In other cases, it is necessary to abandon hormonal preparations with estrogen to suppress sexual desire and consult a veterinarian at the first sign of the disease.

See also:

• Mycoplasma in dogs: treatment and prognosis
• The most common dog diseases: symptoms and treatment
• Osteoarthritis in Dogs: Symptoms and Treatment