Help! Vaginal drainage from pregnant yorkie

[ladyjane]

I am just curious. Are you planning on spaying her? Has the vet mentioned any chances of her being at a high risk of this occurring again...OR the possibility of pyometra in the future? It would certainly be something I would want to know. Scary stuff.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by dawn27

Poor baby girl just misses her mommy. I've never had to leave any of my babies but I imagine its not easy being left alone or you leaving her.

Now that I think of it a friends pup had this. She was very very sick right after her first heat and needed to have an emergency spay. She was only 3.5 lbs and it was a very scary situation for them both. That baby was in the ICU for 5 days and her mommy was not handling it well at all. I just didn't remember what she said it was called, but now I know. From what I understand it is a bacterial infection that happens when a female goes into heat. It can be hard to determine and can get worse once the cervix closes. Yes, you are lucky that is was caught before it got to that point.


Please keep us posted on your babies progress!

I think you may have it confused with pyometra. I don't have much knowledge with issues with intact pups, but mucometra is not bacterial from what I am reading.

[gemy]

Mucometra/hydrometra

The accumulation of serous fluid within the uterus is hydrometra, and if the fluid is mucinous, it becomes mucometra. The contents in these conditions are acellular or poorly cellular. It is normal for there to be increased fluid in the uterus during oestrus, and in cystic hyperplasia. Hydrometra or mucometra is a common part of pseudopregnancy (or localised endometrial hyperplasia).
In most conditions, the accumulation of fluid is the result of an obstruction to outflow. Cystic endometrial hyperplasia can contribute to this, and most cases of CEH have some degree of mucometra. Obstruction to outflow is seen in improper attempts to remove the uterus during ovariohysterectomy and leaving a portion of uterus behind (see ovarian remnant syndrome). The uterine remnant becomes cystically distended with clear fluid.
Obstruction at the cervix (physiological closure or lack of opening/estrus) will cause the uterine body and both horns to distend. Endometrial polyps can cause a local obstruction and the uterus will distend proximal to the site. Segmental aplasia and uterine neoplasia are other potential causes. Those cases where obstruction is the cause would be expected to have atrophy of the endometrium due to pressure.
Hydrometra and mucometra to a mild degree are also seen in cystic endometrial hyperplasia of its different forms, and varying degrees of dilation may be seen. It is also a part of pseudopregnancy. In mild cases, the dilation is best recognised after transverse sectioning of the uterus (see cystic endometrial hyperplasia above). In cystic endometrial hyperplasia due to progesterone stimulation, there is increases secretion by the endometrial glands, decreases myometrial contractility and causes closure of the cervix.
Marked dilation with hydrometra will normally require some obstructive situation. Oh et al (2005) for example found hydrometra in a dog with segmental aplasia of the uterine body. Pena et al (2006) reports mucometra in a dog with a large uterine carcinoma.
Cases of mucometra or hydrometra should be sterile (Fransson et al 1997).
One of the early reports of hydrometra was by McAfee and McAfee (1976) wherein they describe a young dog with 240 ml of serosanguinous fluid in the left uterine horn. The right horn and body were normal. There were 'localized areas of endometrial hypoplasia'.
Payan-Carreira et al (2006) reports on a case of hydrometra in a 10 yr old Yorkshire terrier where there was no endometrial hyperplasia or obstruction, yet the uterus was 2 cm diameter. There was a microscopic granulosa cell tumour, but no corpora lutea or follicles. There was no endometrial hyperplasia but there was widespread estrogen receptor reactivity on immunohistochemistry. They surmised the granulosa cell tumour was responsible for stimulating this lesion - oestrogen production unregulating oestrogen receptor activity in the uterus..

Sontas et al (2013) reported on a dog with inguinal hernia that contained the uterus - which was reported to have hydrometra/mucometra. The mucometra/hydrometra appeared to be very mild. The histological finding of endometrial fibrosis could be from entrapment. Hemorrhage and edema of the endometrium was reported - how this differs from an identical finding from surgical manipulation was not discussed.

Fransson B, Lagerstedt AS, Hellmen E, Jonsson P. (1997) Bacteriological findings, blood chemistry profile and plasma endotoxin levels in bitches with pyometra or other uterine diseases. Zentralbl Veterinarmed A. 44(7): 417-426

McAfee LT, McAfee JT (1976) Hydrometra in a bitch. Mod Vet Pract 57: 829.
McEntee K (1990) Reproductive Pathology of Domestic Mammals. Academic Press p 170.
Oh KS, Son CH, Kim BS, Hwang SS, Kim YJ, Park SJ, Jeong JH, Jeong C, Park SH, Cho KO. (2005) Segmental aplasia of uterine body in an adult mixed breed dog. J Vet Diagn Invest. 17(5): 490-492.

Payan-Carreira R, Pina J, Costa M, Seixas F, Pires MA. (2006) Oestrogen receptors in a case of hydrometra in a bitch. Vet Rec. 158(14) :487-489

Pena FJ, Gines JA, Duque J, Vieitez V, Matrinez-Perez R, Madejon L, Nunez Martinez I, Moran JM, Fernandez-Garcia S (2006). Endometrial Adenocarcinoma and Mucometra in a 6-year-old Alaska Malamute. Reprod Dom Anim. 41: 189-190.
Pretzer SD (2008) Clinical presentation of canine pyometra and mucometra; a review. Theriogenology 70: 359-363.
Sontas HB, Toydemir S, Erdogan O, Sennazli G, Ekici H (2013) Inguinal herniation with hydrometra/mucometra in a poodle bitch. Canadian vet J 2013; 54: 840-844

Endometrial biopsy

Endometrial biopsy is in its infancy in dogs. Little emphasis on biopsy is, in part, because of the difficulty in obtaining samples. Christensen et al (2012) compared endometrial biopsies with full thickness samples of the same dogs (3 biopsies per dog except 1 of 20 dogs, 59 biopsies total, of which 54 were readable) and obtained readable biopsies from 18 of 20 dogs. 10 dogs had endometritis, 7 had cystic endometrial hyperplasia, and 7 had endometrial fibrosis.
In a large study of incisional uterine biopsy at laparotomy, Gifford et al 2013 reports on changes identified in bitchs. The exact reason for biopsy was not presented, although subfertility was indicated. None-the-less, it provides a range of changes found in dogs. The following table summarises the findings in 399 bitches. 111 or 28% were normal.

Endometritis17043%Cystic change13333%Edema13132%Hemosiderosis12130%Fibrosis 10125%Mucometra4612%Vascular hypertrophy
4612%Gland loss and atrophy338%
Metritis154%Gland ectasia154%Necrosis144%PEH144%Stage mismatch123%Pyometra92%Adenomyosis62%Subinvolution 31%Arteritis21%Mucocele21%Polyp1 Serosal inclusion cyst

http://www.uoguelph.ca/~rfoster/repr...ale/dog/female

_dog_uterus.htm

The above extracts are from the link posted just above. I personally have never heard of mucometra and in this small sample size it comes in at about 12% and appears to be closely associated with false pregnancy ... well at least in this small sample size.

Having said that the poster is well advised to look up and research this condition fully, in order to make an informed decision on the risks vs benefits of spaying her female.

On a further note discharge from the female of any significant volumne or small volume and extended duration is not NORMAL, and needs to be seen to immediately.

Extended duration of small volumne fluids is more than one day, and if day 3 sees the same then off to the vet you go. Off course Baring other indicators of un-wellness, such as fever, pain restlessness, lack of appetite etc. Then you go immediately to the vet. JMO

[OneBaby]

Originally Posted by dawn27

Poor baby girl just misses her mommy. I've never had to leave any of my babies but I imagine its not easy being left alone or you leaving her.

Now that I think of it a friends pup had this. She was very very sick right after her first heat and needed to have an emergency spay. She was only 3.5 lbs and it was a very scary situation for them both. That baby was in the ICU for 5 days and her mommy was not handling it well at all. I just didn't remember what she said it was called, but now I know. From what I understand it is a bacterial infection that happens when a female goes into heat. It can be hard to determine and can get worse once the cervix closes. Yes, you are lucky that is was caught before it got to that point.


Please keep us posted on your babies progress!

Yes, Dawn, it can get very bad if the cervix closes. It can rupture like an appendix and cause septic shock and even death.
I'm sorry to hear about your friend's pup. How did she do after she was spayed? Anymore problems? I hope not. It sounds like she went through a bad ordeal.

[OneBaby]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

I am just curious. Are you planning on spaying her? Has the vet mentioned any chances of her being at a high risk of this occurring again...OR the possibility of pyometra in the future? It would certainly be something I would want to know. Scary stuff.

The vet told me that if the treatment worked and cleared the mucus, she would be able to have puppies. In fact, she said that she should be bred immediately, on her first heat. Her exact words were, "A pregnant uterus is a happy uterus when it comes to mucometra."

Charlene

[dawn27]

Originally Posted by OneBaby

Yes, Dawn, it can get very bad if the cervix closes. It can rupture like an appendix and cause septic shock and even death.
I'm sorry to hear about your friend's pup. How did she do after she was spayed? Anymore problems? I hope not. It sounds like she went through a bad ordeal.

No thank goodness, after she spent a few days on fluids with other medications they were able to get spayed done and she had a normal recovery.

[Lilah Charm]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

This is a condition that I would think all breeders should know about. When reading about pyometra, mucometra is often mentioned. People just breed dogs and don't know of the hazards...I do hope that anyone reading this thread who plans on breeding their pup will do some reading about these conditions.

Here is a link with some information.

Canine pyometra: Early recognition and diagnosis - Veterinary Medicine

Wow. That is a wonderful article, exactly what I wanted to read. For those who want to get straight to the nitty gritty of signs, see page two. For those with vague concepts of medical terminology and a fascination/perpetual desire to learn About medical conditions and processes in the veterinary world, it is a great read. Thank you for the contribution lady jane.

Charlene, I am so happy baby is recovering well and that you are keeping up her spirits while she heals

[OneBaby]

Originally Posted by dawn27

No thank goodness, after she spent a few days on fluids with other medications they were able to get spayed done and she had a normal recovery.

I'm glad to hear that. Better to spay your pet than lose her. I could live with that, if that's what it comes to. I just want my little girl to be healthy.

[OneBaby]

Originally Posted by Lilah Charm

Wow. That is a wonderful article, exactly what I wanted to read. For those who want to get straight to the nitty gritty of signs, see page two. For those with vague concepts of medical terminology and a fascination/perpetual desire to learn About medical conditions and processes in the veterinary world, it is a great read. Thank you for the contribution lady jane.

Charlene, I am so happy baby is recovering well and that you are keeping up her spirits while she heals

Thank you Lilah. I'm trying my best. She didn't eat all day yesterday, even the food I took in for her. They said that she just keeps burying it in her blanket. Lol I'm going to make something different this morning and take it to her. I asked them to warm her food because that's how she likes it. Did I mention that she's really spoiled?

[chachi]

Why would you want to take the chance of breeding her and this possibly reaccuring. Spay her and enjoy her as a healthy pet

[OneBaby]

Originally Posted by chachi

Why would you want to take the chance of breeding her and this possibly reaccuring. Spay her and enjoy her as a healthy pet

My vet told me that breeding her would keep it from recurring. Is that not true?

[chachi]

It seems like leaving her intact it could reacur Like spayed dogs cant get pyrometria either

[chachi]

I just read Gemys article and yes spaying her would help this is associated with false pregnancies, if she were spayed she would have no more heats so no more false pregnancies

[ladyjane]

I know I would not leave her intact if she were mine, but then, I don't have any intact pups.
I would look at this as a warning and spay her and love her.
This, and pyometra, are conditions that occur in intact pups....no way would I chance it again. Next time could be the last time.

[OneBaby]

Originally Posted by chachi

It seems like leaving her intact it could reacur Like spayed dogs cant get pyrometria either

When I go to this site, I can't find mucometra. How did you find it?