We've been waiting for my 5 year old bitch to come into season so she can be spayed. Her seasons have always been irregular with lengthening gaps in between. She came into season just before New Year, approx 15 months after her last season. She started bleeding dark red blood again yesterday. I don't think it's a split season as I'm pretty certain she ovulated during her season (bleeding straw coloured/almost stopped and as yet un neutered male dog (they were separated) showing obvious interest). I'm worried about pyo, particularly in light of her history. She doesn't seem at all ill, but I'll be taking her to the vet tomorrow.

I just wondered if anyone has any info or experience please?

I had it happen last year. 3 year old bitch had a normal season then 2 months later started bleeding again and indeed it was pyometra. She was not acting ill at ALL, no other signs than the bleeding, but when we got her to the vet she was found to have a high temperature, vet did a scan, no doubt about the diagnosis, so she was spayed the very next day. (Only reason for waiting to the next morning was that she was so well and there was more time available the next morning for the vet.) Thankfully she recovered really well and really quickly.

Thank you. I'm sorry to hear that.

Was the 'bleeding' actual blood? All the info I can find suggests it must be pus, but it definitely looks like blood. There's some clotting also.

You won't always see pus.  I've known bitches with just blood actually have a pyo.  I would never risk the chance that it could be.

Leave it too late, and I don't need to tell you the potential outcome.

By the way "straw coloured" is well over talked about.  :-)

Thank you. Assuming she doesn't become ill overnight I'll be phoning the vets in the morning for an appointment tomorrow.

A friend has just had a bitch speyed for pyo - the only symptom was clotted blood.

Was the 'bleeding' actual blood? All the info I can find suggests it must be pus, but it definitely looks like blood.

Where it had dripped on the floor it looked like pure dark blood. When I mopped it up with white tissue and really stared at it I could possibly see a trace of pus but it was not obvious.

Thanks for all the replies. She's seen the vet and it's pyo. He feels its partially closed as both uterine horns feel distended, but that it's been caught early. Thank goodness. She's going in in the morning to be spayed.

Good luck tomorrow, with it being caught early she should be fine.

Thank you. I'm getting a bit worried now. My husband dropped Poppy off at 8am and was told to ring at 2. I rang at 2 to be told she was still in surgery and the vet would ring me afterwards. I hadn't heard so just rang back and she's still in surgery. I'm now very worried, is this normal? (I don't know why I'm even asking, it's obviously not)

Maybe they were late starting the surgery due to having had an emergency come in that needed operating on instantly? That could easily have happened! Fingers crossed!

Thank you. When I rang at 2 they said she was 'still' in surgery. I'm so worried, I know pyo complicates things, so I'm hoping its just that.

Thanks again, it's awful just waiting. I can't even take my other dogs for a walk to try and occupy myself as I'm in the middle of making the children's dinner.

Thank goodness, the vet has phoned and she's ok. I can collect her in the morning.

Relief. :)

Really pleased that you can now stop worrying.  Although I'm sure that you won't really settle until she is back home.  :-)

Just goes to show that there are no hard and fast rules about a diagnosis.