Metritis, also known as pyometra, is a serious uterine infection that can occur in non-sterile female dogs. This disorder can quickly endanger the life of the animal, so it is important to recognize the symptoms to act quickly. Let’s take stock of this condition, its possible causes and available treatments.
Metritis is an utero-genital disease, the symptoms of which usually appear a few weeks after the bitch’s heat . The first warning sign is the secretion of pus, brownish color, at the level of the vulva. The bitch licks extensively to relieve the mucosa, so very irritated. The next stage will undoubtedly be the worsening of the infection which, if left untreated, will lead to a build-up of pus inside the uterus because the dog can no longer eliminate the secretions produced by the glands. of the uterine wall.
It is more precisely this affection which is called metritis. In this case, the cervix is open and it is possible to observe discharge of pus at the vulva. These may be of variable color and sometimes accompanied by blood, which may at first suggest that the dog has its heat. This is why it is important to note when the last cycle of the bitch came: if such flows occur shortly after the heat, there is a risk of metritis. It is therefore imperative to make a veterinary diagnosis.
In this case, the infection is unfortunately complicated to detect since the flows will not be visible. Other symptoms, however, can put you in the ear, similar to those of the metritis open-necked: the bitch licks, she seems dejected and sometimes loses appetite. In contrast, thirst can be increased and she will then drink and urinate a lot. Diarrhea and vomiting can occur and the vulva is red and swollen as in hot weather. It happens to observe swelling of the abdomen.
Metritis is a hormonal disorder, the first cause of which is the administration of the canine contraceptive pill. That’s why only whole bitches (unsterilized) are affected. Other hormonal treatments, such as those intended to interrupt heat, as well as abortion may be the cause of the pyometra. It is therefore necessary at all costs to avoid wanting to stop the heat of the bitch in a medicinal way, putting him at great risk. The most logical and reasonable solution is sterilization if you want to avoid heat.
The age of the bitch (usually over 6 years old) and hormonal treatments are the two main aggravating factors of metritis. If the animal undergoes repeated treatments against heat, the affection may occur at any time. If the metritis is left untreated, the condition of the dog can deteriorate rapidly to coma. Ultimately, the pyometra is a deadly disease that will cause the animal excess pain throughout the duration of the infection.
Available treatments differ depending on the time of diagnosis. The more metritis is detected late, the less effective the medication will be and only surgery can stop it. This consists of a total removal of the reproductive system (ovaries and uterus). It is the treatment of choice because it is radical but the operation is heavy and expensive.
To increase the chances of survival of the dog, the intervention must be carried out as soon as possible but it should be known that anesthesia is a risk in the already weakened animal. Convalescence may take several days to several weeks, and the dog will often have to stay in observation or even hospitalization at the veterinarian.
If you do not opt for the operation, note that drug treatment is often not very effective: it is heavy antibiotics whose results may be disappointing because they do not eliminate the risk of recurrence in the next heat (70% risk if the uterus is preserved). This treatment is generally accompanied by hormonal injections and / or medicaments intended to open the cervix to facilitate the “emptying” and thus avoid the rupture of the uterus and the complications that result: peritonitis and sepsis especially if the germs pass into the blood.
Surgical intervention is therefore strongly recommended, as well as sterilization in a preventive way. It will also have the merit of limiting the risk of mammary tumors and nerve pregnancies, common disorders in the whole bitch past a certain age.