Pyometra in Dogs: How This French Bulldog’s Trauma Is a Wake-Up Call for Pet Owners
A female French Bulldog went through unimaginable trauma but her courage allowed her to come out on the other side. The poor 4-year-old dog called Santine Lilybelle was dumped at a veterinarian’s office after her puppies had passed away inside her.
When Roadogs Rescue found her, Santine not only had lifeless puppies in her womb but she also had an infected uterus. The Southern California-based rescue gave her another shot at life and facilitated her surgery.
@roadogsrescue Fostering is about love and transformation. Thank you Kelly and Landon @kelsayer for helping Santine Lilybelle ❤️ #frenchielove #fyp #frenchbulldoglife #frenchbulldog ♬ Sparks – Coldplay
Starting To Love Again
Following her rescue, a woman, Kelly Sayer, opened her home to Santine and decided to foster her. It was a fresh start for the mama dog, but she wasn’t fully ready to accept love from humans.
Foster mom, Kelly recounts Santine’s state upon arriving in her home in an Instagram post. She says, “When she arrived here to us she was so scared, her eyes were bulging out of her and she watched our every move like a hawk.”
In addition, Santine didn’t even let Kelly touch her and she growled at Kelly’s children. Given how much pain and suffering she had gone through at the hands of humans, it wasn’t surprising that Santine didn’t trust her foster family straightaway.
However, with time and patience, Santine started opening up, especially one of Kelly’s sons, Landon. Landon would offer her a treat, interact with her positively, and then walk away. This method worked and after 10 days at her foster home, Santine is a much friendlier dog.
Can You Give Santine The Love She Deserves?
Soon, the foster family learned how sweet Santine really is. She has been great with kids older than 11 years of age. Moreover, she is friendly with dogs and cats too.
Fond of toys and humans, her favorite pastime is playing fetch with her toys. Thus, she would make a perfect canine companion for most families.
Santine has shown amazing transformation. After losing all of her puppies and battling a dangerous infection, she still hasn’t lost her spirits and remains hopeful for a forever home filled with love.
A stable, calm, and stress-free environment would work best for Santine. If you think you can provide her with the love and care she needs, you are more than welcome to apply for her adoption. She currently lives in Shingle Springs, California.
Santine’s uterine infection, known as pyometra, is a serious condition in dogs. Let’s delve into what pyometra is and how it impacts canine health.
What is Pyometra in Dogs?
Pyometra in female dogs is a severe and potentially life-threatening bacterial infection of the uterus that requires immediate and aggressive treatment. Veterinarians Dr. Malcolm Weir and Dr. Ernest Ward explain, “Pyometra is a secondary infection due to hormonal changes in a female’s reproductive tract.”
After a female dog is in heat, her body gets ready for pregnancy by thickening the lining of her uterus. If she doesn’t get pregnant after several heat cycles, the lining keeps getting thicker and can form cysts. This is called cystic endometrial hyperplasia.
The thickened lining can produce fluids, creating a perfect environment for bacteria to grow. At the same time, the hormones in her body prevent the uterus muscles from contracting and pushing out the fluids and bacteria. This makes it more likely for an infection to develop.
Causes of Pyometra in Dogs
A Reddit user, u/TARRIMAGAN, says, “I work at a small rural clinic and most of our patients we see have been sterilized, but every year we see about 6-7+ cases of pyometra in our intact dog patients requiring emergency spay.”
Pyometra can affect any unspayed female dog who has reached sexual maturity and started her heat cycles, regardless of her age, according to Dr. Barri J. Morrison, a veterinarian at PetMD.
Pyometra occurs when hormonal changes in the reproductive system create an ideal environment for bacteria to grow. This typically happens shortly after a heat cycle, when progesterone levels are high. Progesterone causes the uterine lining to thicken, allowing bacteria like E. coli to multiply.
Researchers believe that E. coli enters the uterus from the intestinal tract. Feeding raw meat can increase the risk of pyometra, as it can increase bacteria levels in the stool. A decrease in white blood cells in the uterus also contributes to the infection.
There are two types of pyometra: open and closed. Open pyometra is more common and occurs when the cervix is open, allowing pus or discharge to exit. Closed pyometra is more serious and occurs when the cervix is closed, with no visible discharge.
Symptoms of Pyometra in Dogs
Dr. Weir and Dr. Ward claim that the signs of pyometra in dogs vary depending on whether the cervix is open or closed.
Open Pyometra
When the cervix is open, the purulent discharge drains from the uterus through the vagina to the outside. You may notice these signs:
- Discharge on the skin or hair under the tail
- Discharge on bedding and furniture where the dog has recently lain
- Possible symptoms: fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, and depression
Closed Pyometra
If the cervix is closed, the discharge cannot drain and collects in the uterus, causing:
- Distention of the abdomen
- Rapid onset of severe illness
- Symptoms: loss of appetite, listlessness, depression, vomiting, and diarrhea
Common Symptoms
In both open- and closed-cervix pyometra, toxins released by the bacteria affect the kidneys, leading to:
- Increased urine production
- Excessive thirst and water consumption
Diganosis of Pyometra
Recognizing the early signs of pyometra in dogs is crucial for prompt treatment. Initially, the only symptom may be a slight vaginal discharge, with no other apparent signs of illness. However, most dogs with pyometra are diagnosed later when the disease has progressed further. At this stage, signs of illness become more pronounced.
To diagnose pyometra, the vet will first perform a physical examination. Dr. Morrison states, “If there is vaginal discharge present, a sample can be collected and analyzed under a microscope to detect the presence of bacteria and other cells present right after estrus.”
Imaging studies, such as ultrasound or X-rays of the abdomen, may be recommended to visualize the uterus and confirm the presence of a fluid-filled, distended uterus.
Additionally, bloodwork will be performed to look for evidence of infection, such as an elevated white blood cell count, and potential kidney involvement. These tests will help your veterinarian determine the severity of the infection in the uterus and develop an effective treatment plan.
Treatments For Pyometra
The preferred treatment option for pyometra is surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries through an ovariohysterectomy (spay). Dogs diagnosed in the early stages of the disease typically make excellent surgical candidates.
Surgical Procedure
The pyometra surgery is more complex than a routine spay, especially if the dog is severely ill. In such cases, the procedure is more challenging, and hospitalization is often longer.
Pre- and Post-Operative Care
To ensure a successful outcome, intravenous fluids are administered to stabilize the dog before and after surgery. Additionally, antibiotics are typically prescribed for two weeks post-operatively to prevent infection and allow the dog to heal properly.
Alternative Treatment Option
While surgery is the preferred way of treating pyometra, an alternative treatment exists for dogs whose owners wish to preserve their reproductive capabilities. This alternative involves prostaglandin injections to induce uterine contractions and expel pus.
However, this treatment is only suitable for open pyometra cases and carries a high reoccurrence rate (77%) if the dog is not bred and experiences a successful pregnancy during the next heat cycle. Without proper treatment, pyometra can be fatal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How common is pyometra in dogs?
Pyometra is a relatively common health issue in intact female dogs, affecting up to 25% of them at some point in their lives. While pyometra can affect dogs of any age, it is most commonly diagnosed in middle-aged to older dogs, typically those over 5 years old.
Is pyometra in spayed dogs possible?
In rare cases, a dog that has undergone spaying may still develop pyometra if residual ovarian tissue is left behind, as per Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. This condition, known as stump pyometra, occurs when the remaining uterine tissue becomes infected. To prevent heat cycles and eliminate the risk of pyometra, it’s essential to ensure that all ovarian tissue is removed during spaying.
What antibiotics are used to treat pyometra in dogs?
Antibiotics are not the sole treatment for pyometra and they are usually given before or after surgery. According to research published on Acta Veterinaria Scandinavia, an effective first-choice antimicrobial for antibacterial treatment is amoxicillin for pyometra in dogs.
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