Pyometra — surgery
Purulent inflammation of the uterus in unspayed bitches and female cats — an urgent condition. We diagnose it with ultrasound and blood tests, operate to remove the uterus together with the ovaries, and treat the patient as an in-patient.
Mon–Fri 9–19, Sat 9–13 · tel. +48 74 660 62 68. Outside opening hours, on Sundays and on public holidays, the nearest 24-hour animal hospitals are SKVet Klinika Weterynaryjna (ul. Stabłowicka 109b, Wrocław, tel. 791 998 999) and Klinika Psa i Kota (ul. B. Krzywoustego 105/22, 51-166 Wrocław, tel. 71 339 82 48).
What it involves
Pyometra is an infection of the uterus in which pus collects. It develops in unspayed female dogs and cats, most often a few weeks after a season or heat, when under the influence of progesterone the uterine wall is thickened and its resistance is lowered. Bacterial toxins pass into the blood and damage the kidneys, liver and bone marrow.
We distinguish an open form — with a visible purulent, foul-smelling discharge from the genital tract — and a closed form, in which the cervix is tightly shut and pus collects inside. The closed form is more dangerous because it gives no obvious symptoms until shock develops or the uterus ruptures.
The treatment of choice is removal of the uterus together with the ovaries (ovariohysterectomy). It is the same operation as spaying, but performed in a sick patient, often dehydrated and toxaemic — which is why it requires stabilisation before the procedure and in-patient care afterwards.
When it is used
When an unspayed female dog or cat develops weakness, increased thirst, loss of appetite, vomiting, a discharge from the genital tract or an enlarged abdomen a few weeks after a season or heat. That is reason enough to come the same day, during the practice’s opening hours.
We confirm the diagnosis with an ultrasound scan within minutes of admission. We usually operate the same day, after initial correction of dehydration. Outside our opening hours we refer patients to a 24-hour animal hospital — waiting until morning can mean the uterus ruptures.
Indications: symptoms that should prompt a visit
- A bitch or queen 3–8 weeks after her heat is lethargic and does not want to eat.
- A purulent, brown or bloody, foul-smelling discharge drains from the genital tract.
- The bitch drinks and urinates much more than usual.
- The abdomen is enlarged and tense, and the bitch is not pregnant.
- An unspayed female has started vomiting, has a fever or is shivering.
- The bitch licks the vulval area intensively, and the discharge leaves marks on her bedding.
- A queen loses weight after her heat, has a dull coat and avoids contact.
Conditions for which we use it in particular
Diagnostics beforehand
An abdominal ultrasound scan shows an enlarged uterus filled with fluid — this is the decisive examination, and we perform it straight away on admission. A blood test in our own laboratory (blood count with leucocytosis, biochemistry including kidney and liver parameters, electrolytes) shows how toxic the body has become and how to prepare the patient for anaesthesia.
We carry out the pre-anaesthetic assessment under STD-01 on an expedited basis; in patients in shock, stabilisation with fluids and an antibiotic takes several hours before they go into theatre. We do not delay any longer than necessary — the uterus can rupture.
How it proceeds
After placing an IV cannula and starting fluid therapy, antibiotic treatment and pain management, we induce inhalation anaesthesia with intubation and full monitoring (STD-02); the patient is warmed with a warm-air blanket. We choose the anaesthetic protocol to suit the state of the kidneys and circulation.
The surgeon opens the abdomen and carefully lifts out the enlarged, fragile uterus so that no pus spills into the abdomen. The uterus is removed together with the ovaries, the abdominal cavity is flushed and the abdominal wall is closed in layers. The procedure takes roughly 1–1,5 hours; longer if the uterus has already ruptured and thorough flushing is necessary.
After surgery the patient usually stays in hospital for 1–3 days: fluid therapy, intravenous antibiotic, monitoring of kidney parameters and pain. The lead veterinarian decides the extent of supervision outside opening hours.
Aftercare
At home: a collar or body suit for 14 days, restricted movement, medication (antibiotic and painkillers) as scheduled, until the full course is finished, and an easily digestible diet. Wound check and blood tests after 3–4 days, suture removal after 10 days.
Call immediately if your bitch or queen has not eaten for more than a day, vomits, has a fever, has discharge from the wound or is lethargic. After recovery the problem does not return — the uterus has been removed.
Frequently asked questions
Can pyometra be treated with antibiotics without surgery?
Drug treatment is possible only in selected cases of the open form in young breeding bitches, and it carries a high risk of recurrence. For most patients surgery is the safest option.
Is the operation riskier than an ordinary spay?
Yes, because the patient is ill — dehydrated, with toxins in the blood and often with compromised kidney function. That is why we stabilise her before the procedure and keep her in hospital afterwards. The earlier the diagnosis, the lower the risk.
My bitch is older — will she cope with anaesthesia?
Age is not a contraindication; what counts is the condition of the organs. We assess it with blood tests and choose the anaesthetic accordingly. Without surgery, pyometra ends in death, so the decision is usually clear-cut.
How can pyometra be prevented?
Spaying. Every heat without the procedure is another progesterone cycle, which increases the risk.
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.
Questions about pyometra?
Call us or book a consultation. We will set out the diagnostic and treatment plan in writing, before you decide.