Spaying Your Dog
Determine how you will pay for the surgery. Some spaying surgeries may be expensive, but there are options if you can't afford it. Contact local shelters or humane societies to find out if there are low-cost options in your area. Many shelters or animal groups will perform the surgery at a reduced rate. Talk to your vet about payment plans. Many vets will work something out with you so you can get this important surgery.
Spay your dog. The only guaranteed way of preventing pyometra is to spay your dog. Spaying is the removal of the dog's reproductive organs. During the surgery, the surgeon puts the dog under anesthesia and opens the dog's abdomen. There is a small risk of hemorrhage during the operation because the surgeon has to tie off major arteries to the ovaries and the uterus.
Spay the dog as early as possible. Spaying your dog has numerous health benefits. Most important, it removes the risk of pyometra since she no longer has a womb to become infected. If performed before her second season, there is also a protective effect against mammary cancer in later life. The younger you spay your female dog, the more health benefits she will have. A female dog can be spayed starting at several months old, and then at any point throughout her life. Very old dogs may not be the best candidates for the surgery, as they often have health problems that can make surgery more dangerous. Your vet may recommend extra blood work and other diagnostic tests to make sure your dog is healthy enough for the surgery.
Schedule the surgery at the right time. A female dog usually has two heat cycles a year, and each is a huge hormonal event. Near the beginning, the blood supply to the uterus increases, and then the blood supply tapers off after the season. The ideal time to spay the dog is about two months after the end of the previous cycle up to around one month before the start of the next one. The increased blood supply to the uterus makes the tissue more susceptible to tearing with normal surgical handling, causing an increased risk of serious hemorrhage.
Trying Other Prevention Methods
Breed your non-spayed dog. If you don't want to spay your dog because you want to breed her, you can reduce the risk of pyometra by having her get pregnant multiple times. Plan out multiple sequential breedings, and then have her spayed when you are finished breeding her. If you are not an experienced breeder, consider your motivations for breeding your dog instead of spaying her. If you want to breed the dog, get in touch with experienced breeders to help you with breeding. Think about what you are going to do with the puppies. Be prepared to either sell the puppies or give them away. Breeding dogs can be expensive. You have to care for the mother dog and provide vet care for the puppies.
Consider the risks associated with breeding. Breeding your dog only prevent pyometra if she becomes pregnant. Even then, there are rare cases that may let pyometra develop. Monitor your dog carefully after breeding to confirm that she is pregnant. If she is not, she is still susceptible to pyometra.
Avoid using hormone injections to prevent the disease. Hormone injections are sometimes used to suppress heats in intact females. They are also used to treat certain conditions. Injecting intact females with estrogen or progesterone drugs can slightly increase the risk of a dog getting pyometra. Don't give your dog hormone injections unless they are needed for a medical reason.
Learning About the Causes of Pyometra
Know the difference between open and closed pyometra. Pyometra is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that takes two forms: open and closed. The basic difference is that in open pyometra the cervix is open and drains, while in closed pyometra the cervix is shut the pus does not drain and the uterus may rupture. The uterus can still rupture with open pyometra if the pus builds up before it can drain.
Identify the causes of pyometra. Pyometra is most likely to occur around four to eight weeks after the end of the heat cycle, although it can occur at any stage of a female dog's reproductive cycle. The condition is caused by the influence of hormones, such as primarily progesterone, on the lining of the uterus. Increased hormones leads to thickening of the uterine wall, and the rise in gland secretions leads to a lowered immune system. These conditions cause an increased risk of bacterial infection. Older dogs, over the age of six years, are more likely to suffer from pyometra. However, occasionally a young dog is unfortunate and gets pyometra after her first or second season.
Recognize the signs and symptoms of pyometra. The signs of pyometra indicate that the dog doesn't feel well. The dog may drink excessively, urinate more frequently, or vomit. She may also have a poor appetite and lethargy. If she has open pyometra, she may spend a lot of time licking her vulva and you might see pus staining her bedding. In extreme cases of closed pyometra, her belly may become swollen. Take your dog to the vet immediately if you notice these symptoms.
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