If you are a dog lover or pet parent, you might have heard of a health condition in female dogs called pyometra. This condition can be serious and even life-threatening, so it’s important to know the signs to look out for and how it can be prevented.
What Is Pyometra In Dogs?
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A uterus infection in dogs is called a pyometra. It usually occurs a week or two after their season ends and is more common in older dogs, although any age of dog can theoretically be affected. When a dog has a pyometra, their uterus fills with pus, and they can become very unwell very quickly.
What Causes Pyometra In Dogs?
A pyometra is caused by bacteria entering the uterus through the cervix. Hormone fluctuations during a dog’s estrus cycle cause the cervix to open and close at various points to allow mating and blood loss. When the cervix is open, this allows bacteria to enter the uterus.
As the bacteria multiply, a serious infection develops, and the uterus fills with pus. Older bitches are more likely to develop a pyometra because their cycles can be irregular, and their seasons may be silent. So, the cervix could be open even when there are no symptoms of heat and no obvious changes in your dog’s behavior.
What Are The Types Of Pyometra In Dogs?
Open Pyometra
A pyometra that occurs when the cervix is still open is known as an open pyometra. Because the cervix is open, the pus building up within the uterus can flow out of the body, causing the typical pyometra discharge, which is foul-smelling and sometimes bloody.
Closed Pyometra
A closed pyometra in dogs occurs when the cervix is closed, and it can quickly become life-threatening. This is because the uterus continues to fill with pus, becoming more and more full, and it can sometimes rupture, causing a serious infection of the abdominal cavity, called peritonitis.
Stump Pyometra
A stump pyometra is a pyometra in spayed dogs. Of course, you might wonder how a dog could get an infection of the uterus if their uterus has already been removed. In fact, a stump pyometra is an infection of the small amount of uterine tissue left behind after surgery.
A pyometra cannot occur without hormone involvement, so if a stump pyometra develops in a dog, they likely have ovarian tissue somewhere that is still producing reproductive hormones. Your veterinarian can do a blood test to confirm the presence of ovarian tissue (also known as an ovarian remnant), and surgery may be recommended to find and remove it.
What Are The Signs Of Pyometra In Dogs?
Pyometra symptoms in dogs will vary depending on whether they have an open or a closed pyometra. Dogs with an open pyometra will have a smelly vaginal discharge that might contain blood. Be aware that some dogs are very clean and might lick the discharge away before you notice it, so look out for excessive licking or signs of dried discharge on their tail or legs.
As a general rule, dogs with a closed pyometra tend to be more unwell, and of course, there will be no vaginal discharge. Regardless of whether the cervix is open or closed, early signs of pyometra in dogs include:
- Increased thirst
- Vomiting
- Reduced appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Lethargy
- Fever
As the condition progresses, your dog might develop dehydration, weakness, or signs of sepsis including:
- Collapse
- Bright red or pale gums
- Cold extremities
- Coma
- Rapid or shallow breathing
Picture Of Pyometra In Dogs
If you’ve never seen a dog’s uterus, it’s usually pretty small, regardless of its breed. The size of a healthy uterus can vary from similar to a shoelace in young dogs before they’ve been in heat (gone through a season) to the diameter of the finger of a glove in older, large-breed dogs, especially if they’ve had a litter or two. We all know that the uterus can expand – it has to accommodate a litter of growing puppies during pregnancy, but you might still be surprised by this photo showing how large a pyometra can become.
Image credit: Kseniia Titova, Shutterstock
Treatment Of Pyometra In Dogs
The primary treatment of pyometra in dogs is surgery to remove the uterus and ovaries. While this is the same surgery on paper as a standard spay procedure, it’s much riskier. This is because, if your dog has a pyometra, their body is already under a lot of strain from dealing with the infection, so organs may be less likely to cope with the anesthetic drugs, and tissue may not heal as quickly.
The blood supply to the uterus will also be increased, meaning there is a greater risk of significant blood loss. After surgery, dogs often need to stay in the hospital overnight for monitoring, medication, and a fluid drip until they start eating, drinking, and showing signs of recovery. They will also usually need a course of antibiotics and pain relief to continue at home for a week or two.
While pyometra can occasionally be treated medically with multiple hormone injections and antibiotics, this is very expensive and less effective, and if the dog is not bred, it is almost certain to recur after the following season.
Did You Know?
Depending on the policy, pet insurance may cover the vet exam and treatments for pyometra, including antibiotics. However, if your dog was diagnosed with one before the policy’s effective date, it will be considered a pre-existing condition and is not likely to be covered. This is why getting pet insurance when your dog is young is so important to get the most from your policy throughout its lifetime. Read our best pet insurance reviews to find a company that fits your needs.
Can Pyometra In Dogs Always Be Treated?
Sadly, pyometra is life-threatening. Especially if your dog has a closed pyometra, if the signs are not spotted early and the surgery is not performed until they are very unwell, there is a risk that they won’t recover. The most important thing is to get to know your dog’s season pattern and the behavioral and physical signs they tend to show. That way, if they develop signs of being unwell soon after a season, or they seem to be in season but the symptoms aren’t quite right, you’ll know to contact a vet for advice immediately.
How To Prevent Pyometra In Dogs
As with all things, prevention is better than cure. Thankfully, if a spay procedure (an ovariohysterectomy to remove the uterus and ovaries) is performed, this will prevent your dog from getting a pyometra. As mentioned above, occasionally, spayed dogs can develop a stump pyometra, but this only occurs when an ovary or some ectopic ovarian tissue is left behind after the spay surgery. Therefore, it is very rare.
Frequently Asked Questions
What antibiotics are used to treat pyometra in dogs?
Sadly, there isn’t a best antibiotic for pyometra in dogs. While it’s true that antibiotics are usually used to treat infections, antibiotics alone without surgery or hormonal medications won’t help your dog recover from a pyometra.
How common is pyometra in dogs?
Pyometra is surprisingly common among older female dogs who haven’t been spayed. In fact, most female dogs left ‘entire’ will eventually develop a pyometra during their lifetime.
Spay Early Is The Best Prevention
A pyometra in a dog can be very serious, but thankfully, it can be prevented by spaying. So, if you’re not intending to breed from your dog, it’s best to get them in for neutering while they are young. Your vet can help you decide the best time to spay your dog, but it should ideally be three months after their last season. If your dog isn’t spayed and they’re showing signs that they might have a pyometra, regardless of when their last season was, it’s best to get them checked over by your vet. If it is a pyometra, you can ensure they get treatment as early as possible.