Canine Gynecological Inflammation Symptoms

Canine gynecological inflammation is usually caused by pyometra, which manifests as fever, lethargy, loss of appetite or anorexia, abdominal bloating or distension, and in some severe cases, a foul-smelling pus flowing from the vulva due to open pyometra. If it is mastitis or breast cancer, it manifests as red, swollen, and hot breasts, with hard or swollen lumps in the mammary glands, and obvious pain upon touch.

What is Pyometra

Canine pyometra refers to the accumulation of a large amount of pus in the uterine cavity caused by inflammation of the endometrium, accompanied by abnormal endometrial hyperplasia and bacterial infection. Severe infections can cause multiple organ failure and even death. It can be divided into closed and open types, with the latter characterized by pus-like secretions flowing from the vulva. Open pyometra can be treated via surgery.

How to Judge Pyometra

It is usually diagnosed through clinical symptoms and examinations. Dogs with pyometra often show abdominal enlargement, polyuria, polydipsia, lethargy, loss of appetite, gradual weight loss, and purulent or mucopurulent discharge from the vulva. X-ray examination reveals a significantly enlarged uterus and a high white blood cell count. Ultrasound shows hypoechoic fluid-filled areas and increased uterine volume and thickness.

Emergency Treatment for Pyometra

In clinical practice, the treatment for open pyometra usually involves washing the uterus and administering antibiotics intrauterinely once a day. Since pyometra develops from endometrial inflammation, conservative treatment is usually incomplete and only addresses symptoms, not the root cause. The most thorough method is to surgically remove the uterus and ovaries. The earlier the surgery, the better, as older dogs have a higher risk, and delayed surgery can lead to toxin poisoning due to prolonged infection.