Pyometra is one of the most severe and unfortunately common emergencies among female dogs. If you have ever asked yourself “What is pyometra?” or “What happens if my dog has pyometra and it isn’t treated?” then you will be able to find the answer here, in simple layman’s terms as to what pyometra is, why it is each dog owner’s responsibility to know about it, and how quickly we should respond to the problem.
What is Pyometra in Dogs
Pyometra is an extremely serious, possibly life-threatening infection of the uterus. A hormonal imbalance causes a thickening of the uterine lining, creating an ideal environment for bacteria to grow. This is the answer to the question “What is pyometra in a dog?” – a dangerous accumulation of pus in the uterus.
The only complete preventative measure against pyometra is to spay the female; this is why veterinarians place so much importance on this procedure.
What Causes Pyometra to Occur?
The most common cause of pyometra is a change in hormone levels following a heat cycle, with progesterone being the most likely cause. When progesterone rises, the lining of the uterus thickens, while the cervix closes. If bacteria (usually coming from the dog’s own body, namely E. coli) manage to get inside and are trapped in the thickened lining, they will begin to multiply, leading to an infection.
“Pyometra is a ticking time bomb in the uterus, as the condition is frequently in an advanced stage by the time clinical signs develop.”
The Life-Saving Early Symptoms of Pyometra in Dogs
Detecting early signs of pyometra is extremely useful because catching these signs early could potentially save the life of your dog. Here are some of the most common early signs of pyometra.
- Increased thirst, excessive urination
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Inappetence
- Fever
- Swelling in the abdomen
- Vaginal discharge (only with open pyometra)
The above symptoms can develop very rapidly. In fact, some dogs can go from showing absolutely no signs to death in as little as a few days.
Open Pyometra vs Closed Pyometra
A dog can develop two different types of pyometra: open and closed.
Open Pyometra
An open pyometra is when the cervix is forming; thus, there is pus coming out from the body of the dog. This may make the open formation appear “less bad”, but this type of pyometra is still extremely dangerous. Many people have asked the following question in regards to how long a dog with open pyometra can live: “How long can my dog live with this condition?” The answer is not very long. Most dogs who do not receive immediate medical intervention will continue to decline and die within a few days.
Closed Pyometra
In a closed pyometra, the cervix is unable to exit the body, keeping the infection within the body of the dog. Because of this, the uterus is going to expand with increasing infection volume, potentially enough volume to rupture. Therefore, a closed type of pyometra is much more dangerous than an open type of pyometra, and they must receive immediate medical treatment.
How Long Does Pyometra Take to Kill a Dog?
If left untreated, a dog suffering from pyometra can die within a few days to two to three weeks, depending on whether they suffer from an open pyometra or a closed pyometra. A closed pyometra is the most serious and can lead to the rapid development of septic shock, organ failure, and death.
For this reason, pyometra is one of the most serious, urgent veterinary care problems around the world.
What Happens If Pyometra Is Not Treated?
Let’s cut to the chase – pyometra is fatal without treatment. If pyometra goes untreated, serious health complications can arise:
- Infection spreads through the bloodstream (sepsis)
- Rupture of the uterus (internal bleeding) and the uterus filling with infectious matter (infected fluid)
- Kidney failure
- Drop in blood pressure
- Collapse of the dog
- Most of the time, death follows shortly thereafter.
Even if the dog appears to be fine, a sudden decline can occur.
Survival Chances When Treated
The good news is that if you get your dog treated for pyometra quickly, the majority of dogs will survive the ordeal. The most common procedure used to treat pyometra is pyometra surgery; it’s basically an emergency spaying procedure to remove the infected uterus. If the uterus is removed within a reasonable amount of time, the majority of dogs will completely recover.
The longer the delay in performing pyometra surgery, the lower the chance of the dog surviving will be.
Why Surgery Is the Best Treatment For Pyometra
While some medications can help stabilize a dog before treating the condition, surgery is typically the safest and most effective means of treating pyometra. The goals of pyometra surgery include:
- Removal of the infection
- Prevention of recurrence of pyometra
- Maximum chance of survival for the patient
It’s dangerous to wait and see if the symptoms of pyometra will resolve without surgical intervention.
Conclusion
Pyometra is one of the most urgent and potentially fatal conditions affecting unspayed female dogs. Early signs of pyometra may appear mild; however, this infectious condition can develop rapidly and lead to death within days. Pyometra will not go away by itself. It is important to get veterinary assistance immediately (in most cases, this means having emergency surgery) for your dog to have the greatest chance of surviving and recovering completely.
Therefore, if you think your dog has pyometra, get veterinary help immediately because the sooner you receive veterinary assistance, the better your chances are for your dog’s health and well-being.
FAQs About Pyometra In Dogs
What causes pyometra in dogs?
Pyometra is caused by hormone changes that follow heat cycles (estrus) in female dogs, especially older or unspayed females. The hormone progesterone builds the lining of the uterus and decreases the body’s ability to fight off infections, so bacteria (usually E. coli) multiply uncontrollably in the uterus before the symptoms of pyometra develop.
How long does pyometra take to kill a dog?
If left untreated, pyometra can kill a dog within 24 hours to several days after signs become severe. The closed form of pyometra, the most dangerous form of pyometra, can lead to rapid disease progression and the death of your dog.
How long can a dog live with open pyometra?
Some dogs have been known to live from a few days to a few weeks with the open form of pyometra; however, the infection is always increasing in severity. Even if the dog has a vaginal discharge, the bacteria continue to spread into the dog’s body. Therefore, a dog with open pyometra needs to see a veterinarian immediately.
What are the early signs of pyometra in dogs?
The typical early signs of pyometra include excessive thirst, tiredness, vomiting, lack of appetite, fever, and, in dogs with the open form of pyometra, yellow-brown pus-filled vaginal discharge. Should you discover these symptoms, respond as if it were an emergency.
Can Pyometra be treated without surgery?
In very few cases. There are medications to help with pyometra in some cases, but because of the high recurrence rate of pyometra and potential for severe complications, surgery remains the safest, most effective option for treating pyometra.
