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Pyometra signs and what to do.
My dog has just had surgery for acute Pyometra. She's OK now, but it was a bit scary. But the signs were not that clear when they started. It was ONLY because I was fully aware of Pyometra, and acted swiftly, that she is alive right now.
In her case, she was fine the day before....the night before...and then WHAM! Suddenly, in the morning she was lethargic, had a creamy profuse discharge, (which, by the way didn't smell bad!) -and was 'straining' as if she was trying to give birth. That particular sign was the clincher. From what could have been a mild tummy upset....it became highly suspicious. I put two and two together seeing her strain as if whelping like that, and figured that's what it was -she was contracting her womb to get something out!
Pyometra can strike suddenly like that. It can strike a really healthy dog in hours. Leave it TOO many hours, and that healthy dog could be dead.
It is a really nasty womb infection. What causes it is either: too much Progesterone hormone, or an unusual response to Progesterone. The womb fills up with fluid, and pus, and the "horns" of the Uterus swell to huge size. At this point toxins are already being released, causing fever to suddenly soar (in my dog's case her temperature was 104.5) and can overwhelm the kidneys, causing acute Kidney Failure. Another possible outcome so the vet told me is Diabetes Insipidus. Pyometra typically strikes middle-aged or older, unspayed females. It doesn't make ANY difference to the risk of developing it, if she has had puppies in the past....if she has been mated....etc. It can strike her anyway. And even though it's less likely to affect young dogs, it still can, so be careful.
The best cure is emergency spaying plus intravenous fluids (to flush the system and spare the kidneys, hopefully) -and antibiotics.
Now the secret is in being very watchful for the signs, and being VERY ready to dash to the vet/ER/ wherever. Time is of the essence here.
All I saw was a slightly "off " slightly lethargic dog who suddenly refused an extra treat, and if I looked carefully I could see her belly 'straining'. But if I'd been too busy....too preoccupied with something else....out shopping....whatever....I might not have noticed.
Pyometra is quite common. It is deadly. It's not something to "wait and see" with. It is a raging emergency.
In her case, she was fine the day before....the night before...and then WHAM! Suddenly, in the morning she was lethargic, had a creamy profuse discharge, (which, by the way didn't smell bad!) -and was 'straining' as if she was trying to give birth. That particular sign was the clincher. From what could have been a mild tummy upset....it became highly suspicious. I put two and two together seeing her strain as if whelping like that, and figured that's what it was -she was contracting her womb to get something out!
Pyometra can strike suddenly like that. It can strike a really healthy dog in hours. Leave it TOO many hours, and that healthy dog could be dead.
It is a really nasty womb infection. What causes it is either: too much Progesterone hormone, or an unusual response to Progesterone. The womb fills up with fluid, and pus, and the "horns" of the Uterus swell to huge size. At this point toxins are already being released, causing fever to suddenly soar (in my dog's case her temperature was 104.5) and can overwhelm the kidneys, causing acute Kidney Failure. Another possible outcome so the vet told me is Diabetes Insipidus. Pyometra typically strikes middle-aged or older, unspayed females. It doesn't make ANY difference to the risk of developing it, if she has had puppies in the past....if she has been mated....etc. It can strike her anyway. And even though it's less likely to affect young dogs, it still can, so be careful.
The best cure is emergency spaying plus intravenous fluids (to flush the system and spare the kidneys, hopefully) -and antibiotics.
Now the secret is in being very watchful for the signs, and being VERY ready to dash to the vet/ER/ wherever. Time is of the essence here.
All I saw was a slightly "off " slightly lethargic dog who suddenly refused an extra treat, and if I looked carefully I could see her belly 'straining'. But if I'd been too busy....too preoccupied with something else....out shopping....whatever....I might not have noticed.
Pyometra is quite common. It is deadly. It's not something to "wait and see" with. It is a raging emergency.
Best Answer
COMMUNITY LEADER
Thanks guys!
Well, she's not too bad I guess. It has hit her hard, and she has spent 99% of today on a lovely bed by a log fire being waited on hand and foot. (And she is the sort of dog who likes to spend 99% of her time running about outside! So no prizes for anyone who can spot the difference!)
But she has eaten, and shows a lot of interest in food. She's on antibiotics twice a day. She walks very very carefully out to poop and pee, and is very ready to get back to bed.
She seems a bit slow to bounce back, but that's probably because she's no youngster. I am confident that in the next few days she will be much, much better.
But the vet said the 'flushing out' (on IV) seems to have done the trick, and he does not suspect kidney damage. Thank goodness.
He said it was good that I got her in very quickly, and that made all the difference.
As for me....well I went 38 hours with no sleep, so was tired, but am ok now.
Well, she's not too bad I guess. It has hit her hard, and she has spent 99% of today on a lovely bed by a log fire being waited on hand and foot. (And she is the sort of dog who likes to spend 99% of her time running about outside! So no prizes for anyone who can spot the difference!)
But she has eaten, and shows a lot of interest in food. She's on antibiotics twice a day. She walks very very carefully out to poop and pee, and is very ready to get back to bed.
She seems a bit slow to bounce back, but that's probably because she's no youngster. I am confident that in the next few days she will be much, much better.
But the vet said the 'flushing out' (on IV) seems to have done the trick, and he does not suspect kidney damage. Thank goodness.
He said it was good that I got her in very quickly, and that made all the difference.
As for me....well I went 38 hours with no sleep, so was tired, but am ok now.
Thankgoodness she is ok.... may you spend many happy loving years together.
Give Misty a big kiss from me'.
Give Misty a big kiss from me'.
COMMUNITY LEADER
By the way, signs of Pyometra can vary. Also there are slow-onset infections, and really acute ones.
It can present with a variety of symptoms commonly:
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Drinking a large amount of water suddenly (but not always)
Sudden refusal of food
Lethargy (in my dog's case it wasn't even too extreme to start with!)
Vaginal discharge which is unusual (not the normal "Heat" cycle spotting. Usually creamy-white, or even yellowish, like bad catarrh. This can come on suddenly. Sometimes there is no discharge, and this form is even more dangerous.
It can present with a variety of symptoms commonly:
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Drinking a large amount of water suddenly (but not always)
Sudden refusal of food
Lethargy (in my dog's case it wasn't even too extreme to start with!)
Vaginal discharge which is unusual (not the normal "Heat" cycle spotting. Usually creamy-white, or even yellowish, like bad catarrh. This can come on suddenly. Sometimes there is no discharge, and this form is even more dangerous.
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