and that, Cnigh, is why there is no data. Vets don’t recommend that an already critically ill dog be used as a test subject.
I know the infection could come back if the bitch is not bred or spayed. But there is a huge gap in knowledge about how this is treated and what can be done.
no, there is not a gap in knowledge of treatment, the treatment is emergency spay.
Plus, the rate of recurrence for pyometra is quite high – 50 to 75 per cent, so even if a bitch does successfully conceive (and there can be a 50 per cent decrease in fertility) she will probably require surgery once her breeding days are over.
Add it all up and spay is the best treatment for most dogs.
For a valuable breeding bitch or a bitch who is really ill and where surgery will be done once she is feeling better, the medical protocol involves lutalyse and antibiotics. Cost is often comparable to an emergency spay. Unless they have a specific interest in reproductive work, many general practitioner are not going to be familiar with the lutalyse approach.
Day 4
Shade is still doing well. No discharge yet this morning though. Being on the Orbax has hopefully started to clear it up.
I will update with what the vet says about her condition today.
Thanks Marshfield.
There are bitches out there that have been treated with anitbiotics. I have no idea why it angers people that I am asking about the results of those cases? People keep stating the obvious over and over again (spay) then ignore the actual question. As I said - I`m not going to argue with you. YES - emergency spay is #1 option. Got it - understood it the first time the vet said it. Money made it NOT an option and I had to look for alternatives.
Anyway I will continue to update her progress.
Thanks for the update on Shade, glad she is doing well.
The Society for Veterinary Theriogenology (repro) may be your best bet in finding vets who have experience with treating pyo nonsurgically. It looks like there are about ten members in Ontario who treat dogs:
http://www.therio.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=148
Of course not all vets who specialize in canine repro are members, but it might be a start.
I was able to find a few articles about treating pyo with antibiotics and prostaglandin F2A. Looks like IV antibiotics are given with IV fluids and PF2A is introduced into the uterus. I would certainly want to consult a vet who is experienced with this treatment if you decide to pursue it. I know my repro vet here in NC has treated cases successfully. Perhaps your vet school (is it in Guelph?) could refer you to a repro specialist in your area.
Good luck, and please keep us posted!
No one’s angry. I just don’t see why you can’t see that your questions don’t really make sense, since antibiotics are really only a short gap measure, used to stabilize a very sick bitch before she can get into surgery or for a valuable breeding bitch in the HOPES of preserving her life and fertility until she can produce another litter, a bitch who will very likely eventually need surgery anyway. I certainly believe Marshfield when she says the cost of such a protocol is comparable to an emergency spay. The dog might very well require hospitalization to monitor the infection in case it closes off and the danger of sepsis becomes immediate and very real.
Your dog GOT antibiotics instead of immediate surgery. Even if your dog recovered with antibiotics alone this time, there’s a very good chance she’d get another pyometra after a future cycle.
The overwhelming odds are your dog will be fine with getting spayed. I can even relay an experience of a dog that was spayed at later in life: my family’s Cairn Terrier, who was spayed at 9 1/2 years and at the vet’s suggestion to avoid pyometra and other problems. She was never bred; my mom had this dopey idea that spaying dogs makes them fat. She lived to be almost 16. After the surgery everyone, including the dog, was relieved to be no longer experiencing the month of runaway hormones and randy male dogs showing up at the house, and then the aftermath in her case of false pregnancies. My family had another dog before the Cairn, another terrier who was not spayed and lived to be 9 1/2 years (and also was never bred). I certainly don’t think it’s evil or wrong not to spay a dog; it’s just like anything else, whatever you do can have consequences good and bad.
I hope you get another vet permanently, since his or her price was thousands more than at the clinic Squish works for, a clinic that Squish herself said was very expensive.
thank you for this. I am not angry, but I am a bit frustrated.
I just don’t see why you can’t see that your questions don’t really make sense, since antibiotics are really only a short gap measure, used to stabilize a very sick bitch before she can get into surgery or for a valuable breeding bitch in the HOPES of preserving her life and fertility until she can produce another litter, a bitch who will very likely eventually need surgery anyway.
the bitch in question here would be (as stated earlier by the OP) stable enough to spay quickly and she is not a valuable breeding bitch. She’s a 10 year old beloved pet. There is not a good reason to pursue the antibiotics route unless the OP is already looking toward her next bitch, who from previous posts in the thread, will also be a beloved companion and not a valuable breeding bitch. After all, if the OP has to have time to get the monies for this spay together, the OP will not have the cash to buy a truly outstanding example of any particular breed in future either.
I certainly believe Marshfield when she says the cost of such a protocol is comparable to an emergency spay. The dog might very well require hospitalization to monitor the infection in case it closes off and the danger of sepsis becomes immediate and very real.
and anyone who has a valuable bitch would do that. They probably would have the cash in reserve or a card just for use with the dog(s).
The overwhelming odds are your dog will be fine with getting spayed. I can even relay an experience of a dog that was spayed at later in life: my family’s Cairn Terrier, who was spayed at 9 1/2 years and at the vet’s suggestion to avoid pyometra and other problems.
as I stated earlier, I know 3 bitches who developed pyos and had the emergency spay surgery. All of them came through fine.
Thank you grayarabpony, for a thoughtful reply to the OP
thank you for this. I am not angry, but I am a bit frustrated.
I just don’t see why you can’t see that your questions don’t really make sense, since antibiotics are really only a short gap measure, used to stabilize a very sick bitch before she can get into surgery or for a valuable breeding bitch in the HOPES of preserving her life and fertility until she can produce another litter, a bitch who will very likely eventually need surgery anyway.
the bitch in question here would be (as stated earlier by the OP) stable enough to spay quickly and she is not a valuable breeding bitch. She’s a 10 year old beloved pet. There is not a good reason to pursue the antibiotics route unless the OP is already looking toward her next bitch, who from previous posts in the thread, will also be a beloved companion and not a valuable breeding bitch. After all, if the OP has to have time to get the monies for this spay together, the OP will not have the cash to buy a truly outstanding example of any particular breed in future either.
I certainly believe Marshfield when she says the cost of such a protocol is comparable to an emergency spay. The dog might very well require hospitalization to monitor the infection in case it closes off and the danger of sepsis becomes immediate and very real.
and anyone who has a valuable bitch would do that. They probably would have the cash in reserve or a card just for use with the dog(s).
The overwhelming odds are your dog will be fine with getting spayed. I can even relay an experience of a dog that was spayed at later in life: my family’s Cairn Terrier, who was spayed at 9 1/2 years and at the vet’s suggestion to avoid pyometra and other problems.
as I stated earlier, I know 3 bitches who developed pyos and had the emergency spay surgery. All of them came through fine.
Thank you grayarabpony, for a thoughtful reply to the OP
I`m not going dignify the assinine comments above.
Update on Shade:
She is now at the vet and will be having surgery tomorrow. They pulled blood right away and will be doing exrays (before & after).
I felt much better with this vet. Shade is a very loving dog - pats and kisses go a long way with her. She is in great hands.
[QUOTE=cnigh;6893425]
I`m not going dignify the assinine comments above.
Update on Shade:
She is now at the vet and will be having surgery tomorrow. They pulled blood right away and will be doing exrays (before & after).
I felt much better with this vet. Shade is a very loving dog - pats and kisses go a long way with her. She is in great hands.[/QUOTE]
Good, that will be taken care of, hopefully without incident.
It is so hard to leave them there, is it.
It really is. She has no idea of whats going on. Very confused about going with the vet. I wish we could make them understand.
cnigh, massive jingles that your adorable girl comes back home and gives you many more years of joy. Big hugs to you.
MMM… I don’t like the term “asinine” applied to threedogpack. Her opinion is worth quite a bit of salt, even though it may not jive with your own. If you can get outside your head for a minute I think you could clearly see where she’s coming from; I certainly do but I also can see where you might be coming from if you sincerely disagree with spaying for ethical reasons as you insinuated. You are the one outside the box; you should understand the opposing view and she and Bacardi as well as others actually showed a large amount of restraint considering the situation. I don’t think now is the time to start flinging insults.
That sounds like veterinary malpractice.
My SIL’s dog (Chow x Golden Retriever) has been nothing but heartache from day one. Alergic to just about every dog food and doesn’t do well on vet diets either. Skin conditions and other health issues. She was playing in the yard in Dec and broke her leg. Then while healing from surgery she developed pancreatitis. And then while healing from that, she broke her toe and had to have it amputated. The dog is worth more than her truck at this point and only 7 yrs old. I don’t know how much more my SIL will do for the dog at this point. I am praying she heals without any more issues.
That sounds like a genetically unlucky (allergies/skin) and generally unlucky (broken bones) dog I wouldn’t blame her if she had the dog put down the next time it got sick or injured.
I hope you find a cheaper vet soon…I know it’s not a cheap profession and the overhead can suck, but some prices…
Shade made it through surgery without any issues. The vet has no concerns about recovery.
At 11:30 she was trying to stand up and walk around, but the vet says she has been calm and resting. I was worried about her fretting in the kennel, but she is fine.
Danceronice - my parents are elderly so veterinary malpractice is not something they can worry about at this point in life. They changed vets, but the damage was done. The dog is ok, but not a healthy animal.
My SILs dog is having issues with the broken leg. The pin has been taken out, but a piece of wire had grown into the bone and couldnt be removed. She can’t put weight on it. The toe amputation healed quick and clean. Not sure what else can/will be done for her leg at this point.
Just read this thread, and I am so glad Shade is doing well. She is a beautiful dog!
Since I am not perfect, and every single decision I have made about my pets has not been perfect, I do not expect others to be perfect either. I can see that the OP loves her dog and has done the very best she can for her dog, and that is good enough for me. OP you have my support, warm thoughts and jingles for Shade.
I am very very very glad to hear the surgery went well. I hope you get Shade home soon, either tonight or tomorrow, I am sure you miss her.
Thanks guys, I really appreciate it.
I just got off the phone with the vet. She confirmed it was an open Pyometra. The uterus was filled with puss, but had continued to drain. There was no sign of any rupture or secondary issues (ie. cancer etc). I believe the vet said the ovaries were left behind (must confirm). I know she said they were healthy. Blood work came back perfect. And lastly she has great teeth, a beautiful coat and now clean ears.
Because of the risk of infection and size of the incision, (5 inches) she will not be coming home until Friday. I`m glad to have her pain being managed by the vet. I hate having animals and kids in pain, I just want to be able to take the pain away.
This vet is so loving towards the animals. It really makes me feel better, since Shade loves everybody. They also do a full spa treatment for all pets before they go home :).
Thats great news, glad your girl is doing well 
We had a case yesterday, very sad one. Referred to us for pyometera surgery (8 year old female), but signs werent quite consistent with pyo. Ultrasound of the abdomen revealed bleeding liver mass. Hemangiosarcoma. Intact female, and only 8 years old. Owners didnt wish to persue surgery (understandable) and was euthanized. How sad, especially when you have been prepared that your dog just needs to be spayed and they will be fine.
[QUOTE=SquishTheBunny;6895017]
Hemangiosarcoma. Intact female, and only 8 years old. Owners didnt wish to persue surgery (understandable) and was euthanized. How sad, especially when you have been prepared that your dog just needs to be spayed and they will be fine.[/QUOTE]
Actually, Squish, according to this recent study:
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0055937
in Goldens, late neutered bitches were four times more likely to develop hemangiosarcoma compared to intact bitches. Early neutered ones did a little better compared to intact for hemangiosarcoma, but did significantly worse with some of the other significant health issues. Don’t know what breed this bitch you mentioned was, certainly there could be differences among breeds. Seems to me the Rottie study found similar increases in hemangiosarcoma in spayed bitces, but I could be wrong.
OP, so glad your girl did well through the surgery, and yay if she kept her ovaries, according to recent studies.
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