Events occurring over the past week dictate that I continue to dwell on this topic which appeared in last week’s column (not for the first time). Firstly, within the space of one week, two cases of pyometra presented themselves (fortunately, both dogs survived); and secondly, when I did a superficial bit of research on the patients suffering from this ailment, I realized that the incidence is much higher than I originally thought. It behoves me, therefore, to again emphasize the origin, symptomatology and treatment of this malady.
I had pointed out in TPC last week that pyometra, at the outset, is a hormonal problem. This hormonal imbalance creates a change in the tissue structure of the wall of the female’s womb. This in turn makes it easier for bacteria (germs) to invade and lodge themselves in the already vulnerable uterine wall.
All sorts of conditions can create the hormonal imbalance. Owners come to the vet and “demand” (for whatever reason) injections which would delay or suppress estrus (the heat period when the bitch is ready to mate and conceive). Or, the bitch might have been mismated (a nice way of saying that an unwanted male dog had intercourse with her), and the owner wants the conception (pregnancy) terminated through injection of hormones. Here is where the problem could begin.
Notwithstanding the fact that much research has gone into the exact dosage
