My 12-year-old dog has uterine infection & on BP meds. Surgery risks?

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.

Spaying (ovariohysterectomy) is likely the best treatment. If the infection is limited to the reproductive tract, then removing the organ is the most efficient way of removing the problem. This surgery shouldn't lead to spread of infection if done properly since the uterus is removed completely without needing to cut into it.

Unfortunately the choice is either removal of the uterus and ovaries and survival or losing her to sepsis or kidney failure . Anesthesia is very safe nowadays and the surgery, while log and not easy, is not that dangerous. So having her spayed is the best and safest option, even at her age. Your vet will likely do gas anesthesia which is very easily turned off, ie , if there are complications, your dog can be taken our of anesthesia very quickly, which is a safety factor. Ask your vet for pain medicine for her for the days afterwards.

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. A pet who is suffering from a uterine infection doesn't need a special diet food, unless of course you are trying to get her to eat something while she awaits surgery at a later date. If she is also suffering from bad kidneys, then she needs to be on a prescription kidney diet such as Royal Canin Renal or Hil'ls K/D, prescribed by your vet. If her kidneys are healthy and it is just her uterus that is infected, then no special diet is needed. She just needs nutrition through her normal dog food or if she isn't eating her normal dog food, you can offer some boiled plain chicken and rice or tuna and rice to entice her to eat until she can have her surgery. Surgical complications of a pyometra surgey (infected uterus) are: systemic infection, wound dehiscence (opening of the surgery site) and of course the normal risks that come with anesthesia (heart rate drop, blood pressure drop, etc). Otherwise, we shouldn't expect any complications for any pet as long as the surgery is successful and you adhere to the after care instructions from your vet. I hope that your pet Sofi is able to recover well from her soon to be surgery I assume. Best wishes and take care!

In my opinion if she is not improving with medication after a few days I would do the operation. There is not another option if you've already tried antibiotics. She could die if you don't do the surgery. Anesthesia monitoring and giving fluids during the operation will decrease the risk for Kitty. Many senior dogs have surgeries without complications. Once the operation is done Kitty should recover quickly. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Kitty.

If your dog has pyometra or infected uterus this is need for immediate emergency surgery to spay and remove the infected uterus. The vet may stabilize with medications and fluids if sick but surgery should not be delayed more than needed to make sure she is stable.

The question is, is it an vaginal infection or a uterine infection? if she is lethargic, drinking a lot, seems bloated and in pain then it is most likely a pyometra (uterine infection), this will require urgent surgery to have the uterus removed as medical treatment fail to resolve this condition in the vast majority of cases. if she is suffering from a vaginal infection this can be treated with antibiotics prescribed by your vet. either way you will have to take her to a veterinarian ASAP.