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Pyometra is a potentially life-threatening condition for female dogs.
Technically, it’s a disease of the unaltered female dog — a serious infection of the uterus. It usually affects older unspayed dogs.
Unfortunately, it’s a condition that most pet owners know nothing about. I didn’t know about it myself until recently.
So, in order to help you understand what pyometra is, how it happens, and how to prevent it from happening to your dog, I thought I’d share this info for all of my friends that have female dogs.
What Is Pyometra?
Since it involves the dog’s uterus, it’s first necessary to understand the breeding cycle of a female dog.
After the age of 6 months or so, most female dogs experience an estrous cycle (“go into heat”) 2 to 3 times per year.
Most dogs come into heat twice per year, or about every 6 months, although the interval can vary between breeds, and from dog to dog. Small breed dogs may cycle 3 times per year, while giant breed dogs may only cycle once every 12-18 months. Source
During the estrous cycle, hormonal fluctuations cause changes to occur in the dog’s body:
- The uterine lining thickens.
- The entrance to the uterus (the cervix) opens.
- In the latter stages of a typical canine estrous cycle, the dog’s body produces a hormone called progesterone.
Progesterone is necessary for the healthy gestation of puppies. But in some female dogs, an adverse reaction to the hormone progesterone causes infection to grow and thrive in the dog’s uterus.
The bacteria enter the uterus through the normally closed cervix.
If left unchecked, these bacteria can grow into the serious and life-threatening infection called pyometra.
Types Of Pyometra In Dogs
Pyometra usually occurs within 2 to 8 weeks after the last estrus or “heat cycle”.
There are 2 types of pyometra:
- Open pyometra – happens while the cervix is still open
- Closed pyometra – happens after the cervix has closed and is much more dangerous and difficult to treat
With open pyometra, you may observe pus being discharged from your dog’s vulva. Lethargy, excessive thirst, abdominal pain, bloating or swelling, and excessive licking of the vaginal opening are also symptoms of pyometra. If your dog is female, unspayed, and exhibits any of the symptoms listed above, call your veterinarian immediately.
With closed pyometra, the infection has no way to leave your dog’s body. As the infection grows and fills her uterus, the possibility of a uterine rupture grows as well. Infection can then enter your dog’s abdomen and the bloodstream – which often leads to septic shock and death.
Treatment For A Dog Uterus Infection
The most common and recommended treatment for pyometra in dogs is the complete surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries.
Antibiotic and hormonal treatments have been used to treat breeding dogs with the hope that they may produce offspring in the future. However, once a female dog has had pyometra, the odds of it recurring increase dramatically.
How To Prevent Pyometra From Happening To Your Dog
Pyometra is a frightening and dangerous condition for female unspayed dogs. Luckily, it’s also one of the easiest to prevent.
The best way to prevent pyometra is to spay your female dogs.
The risk of pyometra rises sharply as an unaltered dog ages – so spay your dogs while she’s young. Not only will you prevent unwanted litters of puppies, but you’ll also be helping your dog avoid a painful – possibly deadly – infection.
I like to help Dog Parents find unique ways to do things that will save time & money — so I write about "outside the box" Dog Tips and Dog Hacks that most wouldn't think of. I’m a lifelong dog owner — currently have 2 mixed breed Golden Aussies that we found abandoned on the side of the road as puppies. I've always trained my own dogs and help friends train theirs, as well. Professionally, I worked at a vet and have several friends who are veterinarians — whom I consult with regularly. (And just because I love animals so much, I also worked at a Zoo for awhile!) I've been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started… and before the days of Facebook and YouTube). My daily motivation is to help first-time dog owners be better prepared from the first day your new puppy enters your home. I like to help dog owners understand what's 'normal' and what you can expect in terms of living with and training your dog — how to get through the ups & downs of potty training, chewing, teaching commands, getting your dog to listen, and everything else that takes place during that hectic first year! When I'm not training, walking, grooming, or making homemade treats for my dogs, you will find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). To date, I've written over 500 articles for dog owners on this site!
