Pyometra Surgery in Pets

A Note to Pet Parents: When Every Minute Counts

There’s no feeling worse for a pet owner than noticing a change in your healthy, happy pet’s attitude. Perhaps they are drinking an unusual amount of water or not responding at all to their favorite treat. If you have not had your female dog or cat spayed, these slight changes can develop very quickly into a dangerous and life-threatening condition called Pyometra. At the AV Veterinary Centre, we know the anguish that comes when your furry family member is in distress. The only way to treat a Pyometra is often with an emergency surgery. It’s important to note that Pyometra is not just an infection; it is classified as a medical emergency because the uterus is a ticking time bomb of toxic fluids.

We want you to feel confident that while there is risk associated with pyometra emergency surgery, there is also incredible life-saving potential. Our highly trained team of veterinarians and emergency and critical care specialists will guide you through every step of this process with transparency, kindness, and the consideration that your furry friend deserves during this very sensitive time.

Understanding Pyometra: The Hidden Danger

The serious discord of hormones and bacteria is the birthing of an infection called pyometra, found in the endometrium (for the most part) of females still intact (unspayed). Female dogs that are intact (not yet spayed) are usually affected shortly after a heat cycle (known as estrus), which is the time period when the uterus is an optimal environment for bacterial growth and the dog’s immune system is temporarily decreased. At AV Veterinary Center our surgery and medicine team is experienced and capable of providing care to both types of pyometra.

• An Open Pyometra develops when the cervix stays open, allowing the infected fluid to drain out. This is still classified as an emergency, but it usually will get diagnosed quicker than closed types of pyometras, as the owners frequently notice the presence and odor of discharge coming from the animal. 
• Closed pyometra is a much more serious situation for your pet, because the cervix is closed, keeping all of the infected material inside the uterus. The uterus will most likely develop to a much larger size, exerting pressure on surrounding organs, with the increased risk of rupture due to the excessive pressure. Closed pyometras require more urgent critical care/emergency care to prevent the animal from being in a state of sudden collapse.

Comprehensive Diagnostics & Rapid Response

During an emergency, if you look for a “vet near me,” you want to find a veterinary medical facility that provides quick access to diagnostics and care beyond just veterinary consultations. At AV Veterinary Center, we make accurate diagnoses instead of guessing about the correct course of treatment.

To achieve this goal, AV Veterinary Center uses the following advanced technologies:

• Digital Radiography (X-ray) — Provides visual profiles of the internal organs of your pet and allows the veterinarian to get a good idea of the size/shape of the uterus.
• Abdominal Ultrasound — The gold standard in veterinary medicine for evaluating fluid within the uterine horns.
• CT Scan — Used for complicated cases that present other internal issues that must be managed together with the management of the pyometra.
• In-house Laboratory (blood tests) — Take an initial blood sample for review of results for tests for sepsis or kidney damage.

In summary, our facility is designed as a comprehensive resource for managing all forms of veterinary trauma and urgent care beyond simply performing pyometra. Types of surgery include large-bowel surgery, splenectomy, and foreign body surgery for obvious life-threatening injuries.

The Surgical Solution: Ovariohysterectomy

The only treatment that is guaranteed for a pet who has developed pyometra is to surgically remove the reproductive organs (ovariohysterectomy). While most people consider this to be the same procedure as a standard spay surgery, due to the increased risk of altered uterus composition due to the disease, a qualified surgeon must take additional care when performing an ovariohysterectomy on an affected pet. Because of the weakness and fragility of the uterine wall, the surgeon performing the ovariohysterectomy must take extra precautions to avoid leaking infected material into the animal’s abdominal cavity. 

In order to achieve optimal surgical outcomes for animals who require ovariohysterectomy to treat pyometra, we use the following approach: 

• Preoperative stabilization — We use intravenous fluids and broad-spectrum antibiotics just prior to putting the pet under anesthesia to ensure that the pet has a stable blood pressure for surgery.
• Anesthesia monitoring — We continuously monitor the pet’s vital signs with a core focus on those dogs that are at risk for going into septic shock.
• Advanced surgical techniques — Our emergency and critical care staff is highly skilled in the area of soft-tissue surgery and can perform many types of surgeries, including chest and abdominal exploratory surgeries.
• Intensive monitoring postoperatively — Most pets are hospitalized for 2–5 days postoperatively so we can closely monitor them for potential postoperative complications. If we suspect that the infection may have spread to the heart, we will also perform a cardiac ultrasound on the animal.

Advanced Medicine Beyond the Emergency

At the AV Veterinary Center, we know that a continuum of care encompasses many aspects of a pet’s health; that means that when your pet experiences a secondary complication to their health or injury, we can help.

• Orthopedic Excellence: TPLO surgery for a torn (CCL/ACL), fracture repair or hip surgery
• Neurological Care (surgery): Specialized spine surgery for a herniated disc
• Regenerative Medicine (stem cell/PRP/laser therapy): Uses regenerative medicine to help promote healing of surgical incisions and soft tissues faster than traditional methods and at the same time increases the chance of your pet’s success following surgery
• Rehabilitation/Physical Therapy: Underwater treadmill for post-op recovery fitness from surgical (abdominal and orthopedic) repairs.

Prevention: The Best Medicine

Our team possesses expertise in bladder stone surgery, amputation surgery, and tumor surgery. Our desired service entails handing over preventive care for your pet. The whole elimination of pyometra hazard requires puppy owners to carry out ordinary well-being exams and proper vaccination, and to elect to spay or neuter their pets. We provide specialised geriatric pet care, which incorporates dental care and metabolic evaluation to enhance their consolation all through their senior years.

Our health facility gives treatment for non-emergency situations, which consist of cherry eye, kidney surgery, and diaphragmatic hernia maintenance. Our purpose is to be the veterinarian you accept as true with for the entirety, from a routine vaccination to a complex orthopedic surgical operation.

When to Rush to AV Veterinary Center

If your unspayed woman is performing sick, look for those emergency symptoms:

• Vomiting or Diarrhea
• Extreme Lethargy
• Abdominal Bloating
• Excessive Thirst and Urination
• Pale Gums or Rapid Breathing

Whether your puppy needs a knee surgical operation, c-phase, or life-saving closed pyometra treatment, our doors are open. We are proud to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy and endoscopy to make certain the maximum cutting-edge remedy is viable.

Don’t Wait—Every Second Counts!

Pyometra is a hidden yet lethal disease that requires medical intervention for remedy. You should deliver your dog or cat to the veterinarian if she indicates unusual behavior without waiting till her situation turns into worse. At AV Veterinary Center, we provide both health center services and emergency clinical care to your pet. 

You can contact AV Veterinary Center by calling 661-729-1500, or you may take your puppy to our emergency front. Our facility gives professional scientific services, which encompass recurring spaying and emergency pyometra surgery, and complete rehabilitation offerings to your pet.