Hi,
Does anyone know anything about Pyometry in dogs? My 7 yo St Bernard has it. She was off her food, when i took her to the vet he done an ultrasound on her and said that her womb was full of fluid and she had a temperature of 105. She's been on antibiotics since last Thursday and has started discharging the fluid that had built up in her womb.He wants to operate on her tomorrow evening to remove her womb. I want to do what's best for her but am very wary of putting her through a major op like this at her age. The vet tells me that she will stop discharging the fluid soon and it will eventually kill her if i don't go ahead with the operation. Your thoughts please.

Jimbob

This condition is terminal. It is excellent that you knew something was wrong and got her to the vet when you did. You have saved her life, if left she would have died. Now you have to have this operation, its the only 'cure'. I pray you dont lose her under the op, but if you dont have it you surely will. My thoughts are with you, this is an awful time for you. My fingers are firmly crossed, and I hope all goes well. Warm wishes

What exactly is pyo? Can't find much info on it.

Jimbob

The Book of the Bitch gives a good explanation on this, but basically it is an infection where the womb becomes full of pus and toxins, usually 2 - 3 months after the last season. It can be treated by injections, but to be honest the op is the safest way of making sure the bitch survives. The correct spelling is pyometra, so if you wanted to do an internet search you can find vet pages where this condition will be explained. I know how you feel, you want to know all about it before you make a decision, Im much the same. An informed decision. Good luck x

Jimbob, you might be looking up the wrong thing - it is pyometra, not pyometry.  If you Google it, you should find a lot of info about it because it is very common.

Go though with the op.

We had a bitch with pyo and she was operated on the morning after she started discharging (discharge was noticed at about 8pm and phoned the vet's then.

Quote--What exactly is pyo? Can't find much info on it.--

It's a very serious womb infection. basically the uterus is filled with pus / fluid. do a search for "pyometra"

Is 4 days on antibiotics before spaying the current way to treat a pyometra?  I haven't heard of one for a number of years and then it was spay immediately at any time of the day or night.

Keiko had a temperature of 105, the vet said it was to dangerous to operate with such a high temperature. Also if she hadn't started discharging the puss that had built up in her womb he would have operated sooner.

Jimbob

Hi Val,
I don't know if this has any rellevance, but the antibiotics my boy is on at the moment for his 'discospondylitis' are also used for Pyometra in dogs.. when I did an internet search on the drug thats all it came up with so not sure if they use it pre op/ post op or instead of op? The tablets are called Cefaseptin 600mg..

Go ahead with the op! My 12yo deerhound was operated on for pyo, recovered with no problems and went on to live another 3 years.

Thanks for putting me straight with the spelling of it. I'm going through with the operation. It's being done at 7pm tomorrow night. Hopefully it will all go well, fingers crossed.
I'll let you all know how it goes.
Jimbob 

Hoping all goes well! good luck :)

Hi Jimbob I almost lost one of my dogs to pyometra. She was so poorly that I was asked to consider having her pts. The vet operated and when I picked up afterwards she was visibly so much better. She hadn't eaten anything for a few days and had been on a drip. She felt so much better she tried to pinch a biscuit off the vet counter as we were leaving!! She soon recovered and suffered no lasting effects. Sending you best wishes and I will be thinking of you
jane
p.s. my dog was about 8 years old when she had it and was a tiny yorkie anyway but had lost loads of weight I didn't think she would have the strength to survive the operation

That's my biggest fear(that she won't survive the operation). She has lost a lot of weight in the last 4-5 days. She's hardly eating at all, just drinking. The vet has told me that she'll die if i don't get the op done and she could die on the table if i do.
Jimbob

My 8 year old had a pyo 4 weeks ago.  She had been off her food for days.  She was operated on at 4.30pm, had her home just after 6.30pm.   She was certainly in some discomfort for several days but was well enough in herself.  The condition is fatal so I would most definitely had her done sooner rather than later.

My mums 14 year old Cairn terrier had it, I was worried she wouldn't come thru the op as she was so very poorly, but she bounced out of the surgery and never looked back she was like a pup again !  she had another 4 and a half years after that :)

Good Luck - I know how worried you are, I had to have a Bitch speyed last Christmas and was in bits, but she was fine and is now thriving :)

I was told exactly the same thing Jimbob and I know how hard it is, but really there was no decision for me to make if I didn't have the op done she would definitely die so I had to give her a chance. She had been ill for a week before they operated and treated for an upset tummy, I feel she was very very close to the end. She was a little scrap of a thing by the time they operated but she did so well, that during the operation they rang me to ask if they could do some dental work whilst she was asleep! Although she had to recover she was brighter and more alert than she had been for a week. I know there are no guarantees Jimbob but I hope you are able to take comfort from everyones positive experiences. Our pets are a lot stronger than we think.
jane

It's good to hear all the positive messages. I know it's the best thing to do for her. I'll take tomorrow off work to spend it with her, just in case.

Jimbob.

Jimbob I wish you and your dog well. Having nearly lost a dog to this I know its such a worrying time for you. Please let us know how she fairs. I'll be thinking of you.
Ange

Jimbob - Sincere good wishes for tomorrow to you and your girl.

Keiko had her op this evening and made it through without any problems. Snorred her head off for the whole operation.
Thanks everyone for all your advise and good wishes.
Jim

I'm relieved for you Jim! :D

You and me both.
Jim

Hope that tomorrow Keiko is more like her old self again.

Margot

Im so pleased Jimbo. You must be so relieved. It doesn't matter what people say you can't help worrying can you? Wishing her a spedy recovery. Best wishes to you both.
jane

Really glad she seems to be ok.

Really pleased to hear that Jim, hope she soon makes a full recovery. :)

Great news :) Wishing her a speedy recovery.

Heaves big sigh of relief all is well!!! Fantastic news, well done! Hard decision I know, but fingers crossed all goes well from now on!

Thats brilliant news, hope she recovers quickly.

Brilliant news, really there could be no other decision because without the op you may well have lost her.  Hope she is very much better today.