Hormonal hazards from not neutering your pet, go beyond accidental pregnancy. These past few months at Barnside, we've seen a lot of cases of common, but often preventable, reproductive health problems.
Pyometra
PYOMETRA ("pie-oh-mee-truh")
WHAT HAPPENS: Middle age to older female pets are at higher risk for metritis because every time a dog or cat has a heat cycle (similar to a woman's menstrual cycle) the lining of the uterus becomes a little thicker. The uterus lining is a good place for bacteria to grow. Bacteria can creep up from the vagina, into the uterus and start an infection. The uterus quickly becomes a water-balloon of pus! Warning: some pets develop pyometra on their FIRST heat cycles! Also, pets don't go through menopause and can develop pyometra even at 13 or 14 years old!
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS: A pet will often be brought to the vet because she's acting mopey or lethargic, not eating as much, drinking a lot or vomiting. Usually she'll have had a heat cycle within the past few months. If the cervix is "open" there may be pus coming from the vagina. Worse though, is a "closed" cervix. In this case, the pus is trapped in the uterus. The uterus becomes larger and is in danger of bursting.
DIAGNOSING: Obviously, pus pouring out of the vagina is a good clue! But not every pet shows the same severity of symptoms. Although we'll review the pet's history and perform a thorough physical exam, we may not palpate her abdomen (belly) in case she has a "closed" pyometra. We'll take radiographs (X-rays) and run bloodwork to help make the diagnosis.
TREATMENT: It is usually recommended that the dog or cat be spayed immediately. This is no ordinary spay! This is an emergency and the costs can be substantial.
COMPLICATIONS: The dog or cat is becoming sicker as toxins build-up. Because they are so ill, they are increased anesthetic risks and need additional medications to stabilize them. The incision is bigger to remove the large uterus. The uterus is stretched to it's limit and can burst. If the uterus is already leaking pus, then the prognosis is grave- many pets die from septicemia.
PREVENTION: A woman may have a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus and ovaries) to prevent or treat many problems involving these reproductive organs. Spay surgery in dogs and cats is essentially the same. Early-age spaying prevents breast cancer, uterus and ovary cancers and the uterus infection, pyometra. Spay your dogs and cats ASAP!!!
---Meredith L. Weltner-Sharin VMD
---Meredith L. Weltner-Sharin VMD
CAUTION! GRAPHIC PHOTOS BELOW
On the left is the Normal uterus from a 9lb, 5 month old, maltipoo puppy PRE-Heat.
On the right is the Normal uterus from a 9lb, 7 month old, maltipoo puppy POST-Heat.
You can see how the uterus horns are nearly triple in diameter- just from one heat cycle!
On the right is the Normal uterus from a 9lb, 7 month old, maltipoo puppy POST-Heat.
You can see how the uterus horns are nearly triple in diameter- just from one heat cycle!
This is a Pyometra uterus from a 40lb, 5 year old Chow Chow dog.
This is a Pyometra uterus from a 70lb, 7 year old Labrador Retriever dog.
---Meredith L. Weltner-Sharin VMD
Click on the links below for more educational articles on Pyometra
RSS Feed
