Pyometra?? Need Imput ASAP Please
 

I posted a message this morning in the general category. I had a couple of responses that were alarming. I need an answer to a question I asked ASAP. Please...

Chloe is spotting.. small blood spots... Not a liquid discharge. Just wanted to make that clear.

Thanks everyone

I don't know if one so young can get pyometra, but being that it is an infected uterus I don't see why not. It's usually associated with middle age dogs that have been left intact, I've not heard of one so young having it, but to be safe I would call my vet.

Pearl's only discharge were a few drops of blood, there was no pus like is mentioned in some of the articles I read.

More info:
http://www.petside.com/health/petvet...tra-canine.php

Since I've become friends with our vet and she takes care of my rescues, she will often let me assist her during s/n surgery. I was able to be there with Pearl and the vet showed me the infected uterus, there was no question....it was pyometra.

I know your girl is small, is that the reason you've held off getting her spayed? My Ruby was right at 3lbs at 13 months, and I did have her spayed with no problems. I would recommend having pre-op blood work done, as well as monitoring during surgery. I didn't realize that monitoring during a s/n isn't routinely done by all vets.

I know a lady that had an 8 month old Yorkie die right on her deck and they found out it was from pyrometria. It's rare that a young one gets it but I hope you have hurried to the vet. Don't delay, I hope your little one will be OK.

Pyometra can be an open form with drainage or a closed form where it is contained to the uterus. The closed form is very hard to detect until the dog is very very sick.
My Moka had pyometra at the time of her spay which was a few weeks after she went out of heat. She was young, around a year. Hers was closed pyometra meaning that there was no discharge or drainage because she had gone out of heat and her cervix was closed not allowing the infection out. The closed form is very hard to detect, and my vet actually thought she was pregnant, and wanted to stop her spay until I told him there was no question, she had never been exposed or bred without a doubt. After he removed her uterus he opened it to see for sure and it was full of infection. Her spay saved her life. I agree that your baby needs to go to the vet.

Signs of pyometra appear one to two months after the heat period. A bitch with pyometra appears depressed and lethargic, may refuse to eat, drinks a great deal of water and urinates frequently. Vomiting and diarrhea also can occur. Her temperature may be normal or even below normal. Suspect pyometra in any intact bitch that appears ill without obvious cause.

Pyometra is a life-threatening infection of the uterus that occurs most often in intact females over six years of age. The disease begins with a condition called cystic endometrial hyperplasia.
In cystic endometrial hyperplasia, the inner glandular layer of the uterus becomes thickened, fills with fluid and forms spaces like those in Swiss cheese. These endometrial changes are caused by the sustained effect of high levels of progesterone that occur during the 8 to 10 weeks of diestrus. Cystic endometrial hyperplasia provides ideal conditions for bacterial growth. The bacteria gain access to the uterus when the cervix is relaxed during estrus. The subsequent infection leads to pyometra.
Although estrogen does not cause cystic endometrial hyperplasia, it does increase the effects of progesterone, Estrogen given in the form of a mismate shot to prevent unwanted pregnancy has been associated with a greatly increased risk of pyometra and is no longer recommended for that purpose.

There are two types of pyometra: open and closed. I can explain the two if you need it.

I have more information on this if you would like, but my advice now would be to take her to a Vet. ASAP. Please keep us updated on this baby.

Just got back from a nearby vet hospital. They said she didn't seem to have an infection but recommended that she be spayed to be safe. As I mentioned in a message I posted earlier today on the Health forum.. the vet that has given her most all her shots had expressed some apprehension about spaying her due to his large hands and her small body. That was last spring when we were just discussing the possibility. Having that conversation in the back of my mind.. I decided to go to the vet hospital instead.

They gave me some antibiotics to start giving her.. they want to see her next Tuesday to make sure nothing else has come up and will at that time schedule her for surgery the following week.

I asked about blood work as someone suggested which they did in house and said everything was normal.

I remember reading sometime ago about problems with a certain type of anesthesia but can't remember what it was. I'll be researching that later.

Bottom line is she will be neutered :( soon. Thanks to everyone who responded and if there is anything I should be aware of prior to the surgery please let me know.

Blessings to you all..

A vet said that? I would have run out of his office.

At any rate, I am glad that you are having her altered. I am quite sure it will go well if you have a good vet. I always recommend AAHA accredited vet clinics.

One of the reasons for pre-op blood work is to give the vet any indications that she might not do well under anesthesia. Also, I mentioned before, but not all vets automatically include monitoring during surgery, so be certain you ask about that. One of the vets here charges extra for the monitoring, another does not....of course the one that doesn't charge for it does charge a higher fee.

I'm glad you took her in, and now will have her spayed......the possibility of pyometra will be gone then.:)

That surprised me too. Ruby's vet is a huge man (6'5), with big hands....she looks like a mouse when he is holding her:p

There are plenty of large vets who do surgeries on small dogs. Yeah...I always get a kick out of a big guy with a tiny dog. :D

A vet said that? I would have run out of his office.

At any rate, I am glad that you are having her altered. I am quite sure it will go well if you have a good vet. I always recommend AAHA accredited vet clinics.
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I'm glad he said it. If he has any misgivings at all.. I need to know.

As far as being AAHA accredited.. I better start doing some research :eek:. Thanks for the heads up on that.. it's been my experience that they do things a whole lot differently in Florida then in Michigan. At least when it comes to humans. Thanks again for mentioning that!!

I agree, but it really sounded quite strange to me.

Shoulda seen the surgeon who did Lulu's LP surgery. Lulu was about the size of his hand! :eek::D

One of the reasons for pre-op blood work is to give the vet any indications that she might not do well under anesthesia. Also, I mentioned before, but not all vets automatically include monitoring during surgery, so be certain you ask about that. One of the vets here charges extra for the monitoring, another does not....of course the one that doesn't charge for it does charge a higher fee.

I'm glad you took her in, and now will have her spayed......the possibility of pyometra will be gone then.:)
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I got the impression that the blood work was to determine if they had any pre-existing conditions. Sheesh.. I dunno about me. I was feeling ill myself thinking of my little "coo coo" possibly being sick or undergoing surgery. They're so dog gone tiny and helpless :(. Hopefully next visit I'll be in a better state of mind to absorb what it is they're trying to share with me. I did ask her what type of anesthesia they use ... she mentioned "something" :confused::confused::confused: and then said she would discuss it further with me next week. I think it was iso..... something.

I was stressing so much.. I feel sick and have a headache. I'll be turning in early tonight.

How can such a little creature have such a major impact on your life??

Thanks again everyone.

Here is a Sticky about PreOp blood work

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...-protocol.html