Pyometra
When you raise a female dog, you should be aware of this disease because it is dangerous and can cause death to our dogs.
“Pyometra” is a reproductive system disease that is common in dogs and cats. This disease is caused by the hormone progesterone. When a female dog is out of heat, this hormone usually decreases. However, in dogs that are not bred, this hormone induces the endometrial gland to enlarge and become a cyst called cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH). It also stimulates the production of more secretions in the uterus. During this period, the uterus contracts less. If there is a bacterial infection that flows back from the vagina into the uterus, it is easy for it to grow and multiply. As a result, the uterus becomes inflamed and enlarges. There will be pus accumulated in the uterine cavity (uterus). If it is not treated promptly, it will result in the animal getting a blood infection, complications of kidney failure. If the uterus ruptures in the abdominal cavity, the dog will go into shock and die.
This disease can occur in all breeds of dogs. It is usually found in dogs over 6 years old. It is said that the older you are, the more likely you are to get it. Importantly, it is usually found in dogs that have a history of birth control injections. The period of occurrence is after 4 weeks to 4 months of being in heat.
Normally, when a dog is in heat, the level of progesterone hormone will decrease, causing the uterine wall to thicken less. However, for female dogs that have been in heat many times and have never been bred, the uterine wall that has changed may not be able to return to normal. In addition, older dogs have a weaker immune system, reducing their ability to resist various diseases. This makes it easy for uterine inflammation and pus to occur.
symptom
When a dog has uterine inflammation, it will show various unusual symptoms such as loss of appetite, weakness, drinking a lot of water, urinating a lot, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, enlarged abdomen, and finding discharge from the vagina that is pus, pus mixed with blood, or dark blood, called open pyometra. However, if the pus accumulates in the uterus and does not flow out, it is called closed pyometra.
If the above-mentioned abnormalities are found, the sick animal should be taken to a veterinarian for a confirmed diagnosis of the disease. The veterinarian will perform an abdominal X-ray or an ultrasound to measure the size of the uterus.
Treatment
There are two ways to treat this disease: surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries (ovariohystectomy), similar to spaying, by giving fluids, antibiotics, and adjusting the electrolyte balance according to blood test results. Another method is to inject the hormone postragranin, which is used for animals that want to mate and have puppies or when uterine inflammation is detected in the early stages. However, it has more negative effects than positive effects, so surgery is more recommended.
Prevention of endometritis
Veterinarians will recommend that owners spay female dogs at a young age if they do not want their dogs to mate or if the owners do not want their dogs to become pregnant again, they should have their dogs spayed. This is the best way to prevent uterine inflammation.
Most importantly, do not give birth control injections to your dog. Another thing is that the Department of Livestock Development has now announced a ban on veterinarians giving birth control injections to pets (as of January 2017). The only way to give birth to dogs is to have them neutered surgically.
Taling Chan Animal Hospital sincerely hopes that all dog owners will pay attention to sterilization, especially those with female dogs. You should bring your dog to be sterilized when it is 4 months old. If you do not want your dog to have puppies, or if your dog is old, you should bring it to be sterilized. “Sterilization” is the best way to prevent uterine inflammation.
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