How to Treat Canine Gynecological Inflammation

Canine gynecological inflammation is best treated with fluid therapy to alleviate inflammation. Pyometra may cause mental depression, loss of appetite, vomiting, and abdominal distension, easily leading to dehydration. Fluid therapy can replenish energy, improve nutrition, and fight bacteria and inflammation. If the condition is not severe, oral or injectable antibiotics can be given. If conservative treatment is ineffective, the final option is surgical removal of the affected uterus.

Symptoms of Pyometra

Pyometra can be divided into open and closed types. Symptoms of closed pyometra include no purulent discharge from the vulva, large abdominal circumference, accelerated breathing and heartbeat. Severe cases may exhibit difficulty breathing, tense abdominal skin, preference for lying down, reduced appetite, increased water consumption, and frequent urination. Symptoms of open pyometra include intermittent discharge of small amounts of purulent material from the vulva, usually cheese-colored, gray, or reddish-brown with a foul smell, often contaminating the external genitalia and tail base. The vulva is red and swollen, the vaginal mucosa is flushed, the abdominal circumference is slightly increased, the appetite is reduced, and there is increased thirst and urination.

Risks of Pyometra Surgery

There are definitely risks involved in surgery, which are related to the surgeon's technical skill, anesthesia method, the dog's physical fitness, and the severity of the condition. Before surgery, routine blood and biochemical tests are usually performed. If the white blood cell count is high, surgery cannot be performed until after fluid therapy for inflammation reduction. It is recommended to choose respiratory anesthesia, which has a lower risk than injectable anesthesia. Additionally, for older or weak dogs, conservative treatment is advised to control inflammation and drainage, and surgery is not recommended.

Prevention of Pyometra

The best prevention method is to undergo spay surgery early on and pay attention to the dog's private area hygiene. Conservative treatment for pyometra mainly involves vaginal washing and assisting inflammation reduction. For example, antibiotics are administered through fluid therapy, injections, or oral medications to fight infection and inflammation. However, the success rate of conservative treatment is low, and the likelihood of recurrence is high. Therefore, it is recommended to choose surgical treatment and have a uterine removal surgery at a pet hospital.