Pyometra is a purulent inflammation of the uterus that occurs in most cases approximately two to ten weeks after the last heat and is the most common disease of the female reproductive organs. According to recent scientific studies, 25% of all unspayed female dogs develop pyometra within the first ten years of their lives. Female dogs that have not yet been pregnant and female dogs over the age of four are at higher risk of developing pyometra.
The disease is triggered by infectious agents that have an easy time of it due to the special hormonal and anatomical circumstances of the female dog's cycle. At the end of the heat, the uterine lining's ability to defend itself is reduced by hormonal influences, while the cervix and uterine neck are still open enough for germs to ascend into the uterus and cause an infection. Shortly thereafter, the cervix closes and any pus that forms cannot drain away and accumulates in the uterus. This is referred to as closed pyometra.
The use of drugs to suppress estrus can also trigger an ascending infection and thus pyometra by interfering with the hormone balance. If remnants of the ovaries remain in the body after a female dog has been spayed, a complication known as stump pyometra, a purulent inflammation of the uterine stump remaining in the female dog, can develop.
Different symptoms appear depending on the form of the disease. In cases of closed pyometra, the first signs of the disease are usually increased thirst and increased urination. These may be accompanied by apathy, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and fever. If left untreated, the toxins produced by the bacteria can lead to life-threatening blood poisoning. Uterine infection is always an emergency, and a veterinarian should be consulted immediately at the slightest suspicion.
In the case of open pyometra, the purulent fluid flows out of the uterus through the cervix. These female dogs are often taken to the vet because of a cocoa-colored, foul-smelling discharge, constant licking, and swollen external genitalia. It is not uncommon for these animals to also show vomiting and diarrhea.
For the veterinarian, the clinical symptoms of the disease and the preliminary report with a close temporal connection to estrus are usually already very clear. However, X-ray or ultrasound examinations should always be performed to confirm the diagnosis. Ultrasound is the preferred method in many practices and clinics because the examination is painless and easy to perform and the enlarged, fluid-filled uterine loops can be visualized very well.
Furthermore, a blood test, which is very useful not only with regard to possible surgical intervention but also in view of possible life-threatening septicemia (= blood poisoning), provides information about the extent of the inflammation, possible organ damage, and the patient's circulatory status.
Uterine infection is always considered an absolute emergency. If you notice that your dog appears lethargic or is drinking more than usual a few weeks after her heat cycle, do not hesitate to take her to a veterinarian immediately. The sooner you act, the sooner the disease can be diagnosed and possible complications prevented.
In acute closed pyometra, there is always a risk that the severely swollen and inflamed uterus will rupture, causing the pus to spill into the abdominal cavity and infect the entire abdominal area. In many cases, immediate emergency spaying, i.e., surgical removal of the entire uterus and ovaries, is the only treatment option to save the dog's life. The advantage of this is that the cause of the disease is completely removed and the risk of pyometra recurring after the next heat can be ruled out. Disadvantages of spaying include a tendency to incontinence, obesity, and coat changes. For the breeder, the loss of the dog for breeding is of course also a major disadvantage.
In less acute cases, uterine infection can also be treated conservatively, but only if there are no signs of sepsis or possible uterine rupture. Special hormones are administered to open the cervix and empty the uterus. The therapy is always combined with the administration of a germicidal antibiotic. The disadvantage of this is that the hormones can only be used at a specific time in the cycle and are not effective if ovarian cysts are present. Experience has shown that antibiotics alone rarely lead to a cure.
If acute pyometra is detected in time and successfully operated on, there is a good chance that the dog will recover quickly. Only in rare cases can complications such as organ failure or blood poisoning occur even after surgery.
In 25% of all dogs treated conservatively, pyometra recurs.
The only sure way to prevent pyometra is to spay your dog. However, whether a healthy dog should be spayed is always a matter of individual consideration and should be discussed with your veterinarian.
If your horse suddenly looks like it has run through hundreds of stinging nettles or been bitten by a swarm of mosquitoes, it could be hives, also known as urticaria. Triggered by certain stimuli, this excessive reaction of the immune system causes hundreds of small, round, raised swellings, known as wheals, to form on the horse's skin. In most cases, this rash disappears quickly once the cause has been treated.
If feed components or foreign bodies become stuck in the horse's esophagus, the surrounding muscles cramp up and a blockage occurs. Due to the risk of pneumonia caused by inhaling feed residues (aspiration pneumonia), a blockage is always a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate veterinary treatment.
Narcolepsy is a pathological sleep disorder in which animals initially appear to be dozing, but then suddenly fall asleep and sometimes collapse without support. In most cases, this sleep disorder is associated with a loss of muscle tone, known as cataplexy.
Wobbler syndrome describes a complex of symptoms caused by nerve damage in the cervical spine. The often typical ataxic (irregular) gait of affected animals gave the disease its name, as the English word "to wobble" means to sway or stagger. It occurs particularly often in Dobermans and Great Danes, but other large breeds of dog can also be affected. Male dogs are twice as likely to develop the condition as females.
Dourine is a worldwide, notifiable horse disease that is transmitted through mating. It is highly contagious, spreads very quickly and is almost always fatal. It occurs mainly in Asia, North and South Africa. Thanks to appropriate control measures, the disease is now considered to have been eradicated in Australia, North America and Central Europe.
Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining that can occur in dogs as a result of superficial or deep injuries. Persistent irritation of the stomach lining can lead to chronic inflammation and ultimately to a stomach ulcer. The disease can take an acute or chronic course.
For horses, which are flight animals, the eye is an important sensory organ, but it can also be very sensitive to internal and external influences. Conjunctivitis is one of the most common eye disorders in horses. It can occur as a separate disease or as a result of a general illness.
This condition, also known as "cold tail," has been known for some time but remains largely unexplored. It occurs mainly in the summer months, is characterized by a distinctive tail posture, and is very painful.
This disease, which has only been known for a few years and is feared by warmblood breeders, is a hereditary genetic defect that leads to connective tissue weakness in newborn foals. It is estimated that WFFS has existed for 170 years and affects approximately nine to eleven percent of all warmbloods.
For many horse owners, this is a sad moment. The diagnosis "unrideable" abruptly ends the dream of experiencing more wonderful moments in the saddle with your horse. But even if riding is no longer possible, the horse should not be any less valuable as a friend. After all, there are wonderful alternatives for spending time together.
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi (the airways in the lungs). It is one of the most common respiratory diseases in dogs.
Ataxia is Greek and means "disorder." The term actually describes quite well what ataxia is all about. It is a disorder of the horse's normal movement and posture that is caused by damage to the central nervous system. Ataxia is therefore not lameness!
