Sadie is an 8 year old mixed breed who came into our clinic for an 
emergency visit. Her owner was concerned because was extremely lethargic, drinking water excessively, vomiting shortly after she ate, and had vaginal discharge. Once she got to our clinic she saw one of our Veterinarians, Dr. Sappington, immediately. During her examination, we found that Sadie had a fever of 104.1˙F. For reference, a healthy dog’s temperature ranges anywhere from 101-102.5˙F. After performing abdominal radiographs and bloodwork, Dr. Sappington confirmed that Sadie had pyometra.
Pyometra is an infection in the uterus that can cause significant damage if left untreated. As a dog goes through estrus (heat), the lining of the uterus will thicken to prepare itself for pregnancy and the cervix (opening to the uterus) will open to allow the entrance of sperm. When pregnancy does not occur, the lining of the uterus continues to thicken and can form cysts within its tissues. This thickened wall will create and secrete fluids that make a perfect environment for vaginal bacteria to migrate, grow, and live in. During this process, the muscles of the uterus are unable to contract normally and this prevents the removal of pus that has built up. In the worst cases, like Sadie’s, the bacteria will release toxins that are then absorbed into the bloodstream and circulated throughout the body. This causes a systemic infection which can cause your pet to become extremely sick.
At Rock Bridge Animal Hospital, our mission is to provide quality 
medical care to your pets in a compassionate manner. To return Sadie back to her healthy status, Dr. Sappington performed an emergency ovariohysterectomy which is the removal of both the ovaries and uterus. Before her surgery, we started Sadie on intravenous fluids to stabilize her system. Once she was equilibrated, we prepared her for surgery, induced anesthesia, and Dr. Sappington successfully removed her reproductive tract! Sadie did great during her procedure and recovered that night on intravenous fluids. After surgery, her temperature returned to a normal range, she was bright and alert, and even kept her food down that night! That next morning, Sadie went back home to her loving owners where she had a great recovery!
Pyometra is most common in sexually intact older dogs but can also occur in an intact young to middle-aged dog. The best prevention for pyometra is to have your dog spayed. Talk to your vet about the ideal time to spay!
When to Spay or Neuter Your Pet
Source: Pyometra in Dogs
Written by Lainey
