Pyometra

[Wenatcheejay]

Well, my Golden is in surgery for Pyometra. I'm posting for those of us who have not spayed our females. It comes on pretty fast, the sooner you get to the Vet the better. A Pyometra costs about $1000.00, (Or mine is estimated to) but the longer you wait the worse it gets. Worst case you can loose your dog.

[Michelle_Nelson]

What is Pyometra?
 
   Hope your pup gets well soon!

[runamuk]

Pyo is an  infection of the uterine lining and can involve the entire uterus causing the dog to go toxic...it is most comminly seen in unspayed females who also haven't been bred...certain breeds are also more prone to pyo than others

[Goldeneye]

I previously had a female lab that got it once. As your dog gets older the more of a chance of and infection of the females parts during her heat cycles.  The most severe version is when the infection causes the uterus to rupture spreading infection internally. This is what my previous lab had.  Treatable, but cost well in excess of the above mentioned $1,000.  She was opened up crotch to sternum during the surgery.  Took a while to recover, but she did come back all the way.  Definitely, if you do not plan on having pups or your dog is beyond breeding age.  Get them fixed.  This is not worth chancing.


Thinking good thoughts for you and your pup W-Jay.  This is a tough one...

[Happy Gilmore]

Nobody mentioned the easiest way for a bitch to get pyrometria is when they are in heat and you swim them in a lake/river.......It is not all that common. Of all the dog people I know, I've heard of one person who I personally know with a bitch who got it and it was after swimming her while in season.

[runamuk]

Nobody mentioned the easiest way for a bitch to get pyrometria is when they are in heat and you swim them in a lake/river.......It is not all that common. Of all the dog people I know, I've heard of one person who I personally know with a bitch who got it and it was after swimming her while in season.

interesting I know lots of dog breeders and never heard that as a way for a bitch to get pyo  pyo is seen a fair bit in some breeds and specifically in some bloodlines I know in chows there are a couple lines that are notorious for this...happens with frequency in some of the toy breeds as well, far less common in the sighthounds ... was always a higher risk to bitches who had show careers and breeding was postponed seemed to see a higher incidence...

[Wenatcheejay]

I have two female Golden's. One is three, and one is eight. It is the older one that got the infection. I read it is common for the breed and for her age. We had planned to spay her this year. (To bad we didn't do it last.) But, she is doing better now. Total was $907.00 which is pretty inexpensive for the situation.

I definitely agree with spaying past breeding age, this was a lesson.

[Happy Gilmore]

Nobody mentioned the easiest way for a bitch to get pyrometria is when they are in heat and you swim them in a lake/river.......It is not all that common. Of all the dog people I know, I've heard of one person who I personally know with a bitch who got it and it was after swimming her while in season.

interesting I know lots of dog breeders and never heard that as a way for a bitch to get pyo  pyo is seen a fair bit in some breeds and specifically in some bloodlines I know in chows there are a couple lines that are notorious for this...happens with frequency in some of the toy breeds as well, far less common in the sighthounds ... was always a higher risk to bitches who had show careers and breeding was postponed seemed to see a higher incidence...

maybe I'm thinking of something else?? Not uncommon for me...

[Ireland Farms]

Pyometra is not a bacterial infection as once thought. It's a hormonal abnormality in which a seconday bacterial infection may or may not be present. This is why it happens directly after the heat cycle vs. a bacterial infection occuring anytime. It typically happens in dogs over 6 years of age that have never had pups. It still can happen in dogs that have had pups, so it's always best to spay when you're done using the dog for breeding.
Here is a link from a vet: http://www.bobmckee.com/Client%20Info/Reproduction/pyometra.html

[Happy Gilmore]

I talked to a friend who is a professional dog trainer/vet(DVM)/and breeder. She said the pyrometria occurs as a bacterial infection. Horses are apparently the other most common animal to get it. It is possible for a period of time when the females body starts become ready to breed. THe uterine lining produces hormones which are a "petri dish" type environment for the potential sperm/egg. Because of this "friendly" environment created by the hormones which help sperm/egg survive, it can allow for bad bacteria to grow on the lining which is a hormonal secretion. For this same reason, swimming durning heat cycles in semi-nasty water isn't a great idea because the cervix is open and bacterial can enter whereas, regularly, they cannot.