by Kristie Ponce

Created on: February 24, 2009   Last Updated: June 17, 2009

"Pyometra" is a term that literally means "pus in the uterus". As a small animal veterinarian, I have treated many dogs with this condition. All female mammals are susceptible, of course, but in my experience, it is more common in dogs than cin ats.

SYMPTOMS

A uterine infection generally becomes apparent within three weeks of a dog's heat cycle or, less commonly, up to three weeks after whelping (giving birth) or having a false pregnancy. At first, your dog may just seem a little 'off': not as playful, picking at her food, sleeping more than usual. Since this is an infection, most dogs develop a fever, but this can be difficult to detect if you are not actually taking your dog's temperature. A dry nose does not always indicate fever, and is not always present with a fever. However, because of the fever and the effects of the infection on the kidneys, dogs begin to drink excessive amounts of water and generally produce large amounts of very dilute, almost colorless urine.

In an 'open' pyometra, the dog's cervix is open, allowing pus (often tinged with blood) to drain from the uterus. You may see or smell this yellowish-brown discharge as it exits the vagina, but I have diagnosed dogs who were so fastidious that their owners never discovered the discharge.

With a 'closed' pyometra, the cervix is closed. Pus cannot be expelled, and the uterus swells. A closed pyometra is more dangerous than an open pyo. Bacteria and the toxins they produce are trapped in the body. Toxins and other products of the infection can damage the kidneys. The bacteria themselves can also enter the bloodstream, resulting in sepsis, toxemia, and death. The engorged uterus can also rupture, releasing pus, bacteria, and toxins into the abdominal cavity. This is nearly always fatal, without extreme intervention by a veterinary surgeon.

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosis of pyometra is generally straight forward. A history of a recent heat cycle, false pregnancy, or delivering pups combined with increased thirst, poor appetite, and decresed energy level raise red flags. The distended uterus can often be felt on a physical exam, and if the cervix is open, discharge will be found, especially after gentle palpation of the uterus. A vaginal swab may reveal microscopic amounts of bacteria-laden white blood cells (pus), even in a closed pyometra. An x-ray or ultrasound may be obtained, partly to confirm the diagnosis prior to surgery, but also to assess the amount of uterine distension and look for signs of complicating

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