My dog has pyometra and looks toxic. What are her chances of survival?

Hi there. I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem. I agree that it would be an unusual coincidence to see two dogs in the same household get pyometra at the same time, but not impossible. It would help to know exactly what tests have been done and what the results were, in order to give an opinion on whether this is likely to be the problem or not. If Tillie does have a pyometra, then surgery would definitely be indicated. Survival isn't guaranteed, but in my experience the majority of dogs with pyometra do well with immediate surgery and hospitalization for IV fluids and supportive care.

Hello, sorry to hear about Laika. Success ratios for pyometras (infected uterus) may differ between regions. However, most pyometra surgeries are up to 90% successful. Complications associated with this surgery include bleeding, peritonitis, spread of infection and abnormal heart rhythms. In a paper published in 2014, they found that these complications can be seen post-operatively in about 25% of cases. Post surgery Laika should be exercise restricted for 2 weeks until her stitches (if any) are removed. She should wear a cone to avoid her licking at her own incision and your veterinarian will likely give you antibiotics and pain medications to give her at home. Not following strict exercise restriction and wearing a cone may lead to her incision re-opening up or becoming infected. Post the 2 week period, Laika may resume her normal lifestyle. The only way to avoid this disease is by spaying her in her early age. This is generally a big surgery, we are going into the abdomen to remove infected friable tissue. So therefore, it is no longer considered a routine spay and as previously discussed, there are some complications that can be associated wth this procedure. Unfortunately, the other option to treat medically has only been proven to be about 60% effective in one paper and 25% on most other papers with a high re-currence rate. Ultimately the complication for not treating the pyometra or failed medical treatment includes a widespread infection which could lead to death. I would recommend moving forward with the surgery as soon as possible as it is the best way to treat this disease. Hope this helps and best of luck.

I'm so sorry for your loss. From the picture, I can tell that she definitely had a very angry and inflamed uterus and that there's no question that she had a pyometra. The large tube of tissue in the picture would be about the size of your pinkie in a health dog, but it is enlarged because it's full of puss. Unfortunately pyometra makes dogs very ill and sometimes their bodies are not strong enough to survive the surgery. Complications could be related to infection, electrolyte status, organ failure, and others.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Taffy. Unfortunately, surgery is the only ways to cure her if this condition. The sooner it is performed, the better as she will be less debilitated. If her veterinarian will not perform the surgery due to the risk, then you will need to seek specialist care. Otherwise you will need to discuss euthanasia with her veterinarian if she is suffering. I am sorry about her situation and hope this information helps.

I'm sorry Chutki has a pyometra. She won't get her another heat while having a pyometra. Unfortunately medical treatment of a pyometra frequently does not work, and surgery is the best option for her. It sounds like the treatment isn't working if she still has a discharge 15 days later, and this infection likely will get worse and can kill her if not treated correctly. I would strongly recommend getting her the surgery. Best of luck.

First off, I'm sorry Maggie has a pyometra! Yes, you are correct that spaying her is the correct way to deal with it, and I do recommend having it done right away. The longer she has the pyometra, the sicker she will become, which will make the surgery more risky. Leaving it untreated is fatal, and in my opinion, it's better to have the surgery done and try to save her life even though you do take the chance she may not survive the surgery. I have seen numerous dogs and cats survive the surgery. One option you have is to euthanize her instead of doing the surgery. This will put her out of her suffering from the pyrometra, but it does mean you lose Maggie for sure. In same cases, such as with an open pyometra, medical treatment with antibiotics can be attempted, but that that often isn't successful and cannot be done with a closed pyometra. Only your vet can determine if medical treatment is an option for her. I would get her into a vet immediately, as the longer you delay treatment, the worse the prognosis is for her. You can discuss the options with the vet, and make the best choice for her and you. Best of luck!

Antibiotics can be used, but they don't always cure a pyometra. The best treatment is surgery. If Narly cannot have surgery and she has cancer, it may be best to let her go peacefully. Pyometras make the dog extremely sick, and you do not want her to suffer if she cannot have surgery. There is no guarantee antibiotics will even help. I would speak to her vet about possibly letting her go if she can't have surgery. I am sorry.