A friend of ours has contacted us today as she has been told her bitch has open pyometria and the vet has booked the bitch in for a hysterectomy tomorrow morning.
I had a bitch with an open Pyo a couple of years ago. The first vet we saw wanted to do a hysterectomy but we asked for a second opinion as she was a good brood bitch. The second vet told us about a new treatment using Prostaglandin followed by a course of Marbycil (sp). The prostaglandin caused all soft tissue to contract ie the uterus. As the uterus contracts it expels its contents. These injections are given over a few days with the anti biotic. This treatment worked for our bitch and she sucessfully has gone on to have further litters with no problems.
I contacted my friends vet on her behalf to discuss the use of prostaglandin. He was aware of the dreatment but was not sure of amounts, neither did he have any in stock!! He did try to keep iving the negative side that it may not work. Point taken but if it did not work then the hysterectomy option still there. Many cases have worked. I did point out that the prostaglandin treatment cost me about £30-£40 and asked what the current cost was for a hysterectomy!
Then rang another vet in my friend area who informed me she ad ecently attended a seminar on this treatment and would get the protocol ready for tomorrow and commence treating the bitch as she had found the seminar to be very much in favor of this treatment. WOW what a difference in attitudes.
Has anyone else found this with vets and has anyone ever heard/tried this treatment for pyometria before??

Hi There
Dont Know much about open pyometria,but good on you for doing some digging on this subject it is always best to get a second oppinon on a serious decision like this one.

If I already had a daughter of my bitch to keep the line going I would go with spaying, as often the condition will recur.

I think most vets do not appreciate how important it can be for a breeder to preserve a valued bitch's breeding potential. I think they are of the opinion the fewer that are able to breed the better!

There is a risk of the pyometria returning that is why it is recommended that next season another course of Marbycil is given and the bitch is bred from. I agree vets do choose to choose the spay option too quickly - lets face it most vets do not give much change from £200 for a spay, wheras a jab of prostaglandin + consultation = £30 tops!
My bitch, that received the treatment a in 2000, has gone on to have further litters and has been fine. We do give her marbycil each season and knowing she has had pyo before are extra observant. When she has had her final litter we will have her spayed to ensure it does not return. She is a fantastic brood bitch and am just so glad we ot a second opinion.
My friend is taking her bitch for her first injection of prostaglandin this morning so will let you know how it goes.

Here is a link to the site where I found alot of my info including the need to breed next season.
www.workingdogs.com/doc0099.htm

My friend has taken her bitch and the vet has taken her in for tests as he wants to be absolutley sure it is Pyometria before commencing treatment.
That is so good to hear as the first vet she went to did no tests - did not even take temp.! - and was quite willing to do a hysterectomy today!!!!!
If after all this it is not Pyometria I think my friend will be having a bit to say to the first vet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well my friend has just phoned me and she has collected her bitch from the vets. NO PYOMETRIA!!!
Very very slight infection so on antibiotics (mild ones).
Well what a good job she did not go back to the first vet else her bitch would have by now had major surgery for absolutly nothing!
She did phone the first vet and inform him of the situation. His only comment was he was acting on the "symptoms" he was told. He did no checks, no ultrasound just assumed pyo and spay!!! Would have been a good little earner for him ehh!!

Well done for bringing all this to light.
Pyo. is every breeders nighmare and this post contains very good information, I am going to print it all off as you never know when you might need this info, as you say some Vets are too quick to spay and don't realise how valuable a brood bitch can be. (not talking financially here)

Thanks for the info
Sharon
Bullywood Bull Terriers

I am glad someone has found it useful. The article by John Allison is very informative. I know when we were going through the problem with our bitch I phoned him and he was very helpful.