Reproductive disorders in bitches, queens and male animals
Diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the uterus, ovaries, mammary gland, prostate and testes, from pyometra to oestrus disorders. Ultrasound and blood tests on site.
What it involves
The reproductive system of unneutered dogs and cats is affected by disease more often than people realise, and the signs can be misleading: increased thirst, lethargy or problems passing urine may come from the uterus or prostate. We diagnose and treat these diseases in bitches, queens, dogs and tom cats — conservatively, hormonally or surgically, depending on the diagnosis and the owner's breeding plans.
In females these are: pyometra, ovarian cysts, prolonged or irregular seasons, vaginitis, tumours and inflammation of the mammary gland, false pregnancy. In males: prostate enlargement and inflammation, testicular tumours, inflammation of the prepuce, cryptorchidism, infertility. The key tools are ultrasound (which shows the uterus, ovaries, prostate and testes in real time) and the laboratory: blood count, biochemistry, progesterone, vaginal cytology and swabs.
Many of these diseases have a hormonal element, so a conversation about neutering is part of every such visit — but the decision belongs to the owner, and we set out all the options.
When it is used
A visit is needed when an unneutered female has a vaginal discharge outside her season, the season lasts more than 3–4 weeks or recurs more often than every 4–5 months, when a bitch or queen after a season drinks a lot, does not eat and has an enlarged abdomen, or when the nipples are hard or changed. In males: blood in the urine or from the penis, difficulty defecating, asymmetry of the testes, swelling of the prepuce, lack of interest in mating or matings that do not result in pregnancy.
Indications: symptoms that should prompt a visit
- A bitch 4–8 weeks after her season is drinking a great deal, is lethargic and has a vaginal discharge — suspected pyometra.
- A queen is in season almost continuously and calls for many weeks.
- A bitch after her season behaves like a mother, produces milk and carries toys around — false pregnancy.
- A dog has blood dripping from the penis when not urinating and difficulty defecating.
- One of the dog's testes is clearly larger or firmer than the other.
- The owner feels a lump in the mammary gland of a bitch or queen.
- A bitch has been mated several times and does not conceive.
Conditions for which we use it in particular
Diagnostics beforehand
The basis is abdominal ultrasound — it shows a fluid-filled uterus, cysts on the ovaries, an enlarged or cystic prostate and the structure of the testes. We supplement it with a blood test in our laboratory: the blood count detects inflammation (pyometra produces a very high white cell count), biochemistry — strain on the kidneys, and progesterone lets us assess the phase of the cycle. We perform vaginal cytology and bacteriological swabs (culture sent to an external laboratory); for mammary tumours — fine-needle cytology and a chest X-ray to look for metastases.
How it proceeds
The visit begins with a history of the cycle, matings, previous pregnancies and signs, followed by a clinical examination assessing the mammary glands, vulva, prepuce and testes and, in dogs, a rectal examination of the prostate. We perform an ultrasound and take blood; we have most results within an hour, which allows a diagnosis at the same visit.
Treatment depends on the disease. Pyometra in a non-breeding patient means urgent surgery to remove the uterus and ovaries, usually the same day, with hospitalisation and fluid therapy. We treat prostatic hyperplasia with drugs or neutering. False pregnancy — with a drug that suppresses lactation. We remove mammary and testicular tumours surgically and send them for histopathology. Cycle disorders often require several visits with progesterone measurement.
For every option we discuss the costs, prognosis and effect on future breeding.
Aftercare
After conservative treatment we arrange a check-up with ultrasound after 2–4 weeks to see whether the abnormalities are resolving. After operations, postoperative care rules apply: a collar, wound checks, painkillers, a follow-up visit after 2–3 days and suture removal after 10 days. We discuss histopathology results by phone or at a visit after 7–14 days.
Call immediately if a bitch or queen with suspected pyometra suddenly becomes weak, starts vomiting, or the discharge stops while her condition worsens — this may mean the cervix has closed and the uterus has ruptured.
Frequently asked questions
Can pyometra be treated without surgery?
In selected breeding animals that are in good general condition and have an open cervix, drug treatment is possible, but relapses are common. For most bitches and queens, surgery is the safest option.
Does neutering a dog help with the prostate?
Yes — in benign hyperplasia the gland shrinks within a few weeks of neutering. If prostate cancer is suspected, management is different, which is why we diagnose first.
Is every lump in the mammary gland cancer?
In bitches roughly half of the tumours are malignant, in queens the great majority. That is why we assess every lesion cytologically and recommend removal with histopathological examination.
Is false pregnancy dangerous?
Not in itself, but prolonged lactation predisposes to mastitis, and recurrences strain the body. We treat it, and for recurrences we propose neutering.
We manage every case individually. The scope, indications and course described above are indicative; we agree the exact diagnostic and treatment plan during the consultation. This content is for information only and does not replace a veterinary consultation.
Do you have questions about reproductive system diseases in bitches, queens and males?
Call us or book a consultation. We will set out the diagnostic and treatment plan in writing, before you decide.