Pyometra(sp?)

[moirat]

Life is one little drama after another in the dog world isn't it!!!

My 3 year old westie bitch was in season in May and despite AI treatments she failed to conceive. A bit dissappointed but we battled on. 3 days ago i noticed her shivering, I put it down to the horrid cold weather and she kept her jacket on day and night. She kept shaking and I commented to Oh she seemed odd and quite snappy at the other dogs( most out of character). Lo and behold yesterday while searching through an old bag of dolls clothes (looking for a jumper with a long neck for her), she climbed onto my lap and I noticed a mucky bloody discahrge - off to the vet- Open pyometra. She seems much brighter this morning after a shot of antibiotics and pain relief ( and course of antibiotics to have here at home) but I have to wonder how likely it is to reoccur or if it is in her best interest to have her speyed. I had planned on a litter from my Mary (RIP) this year however ... when this girl came in to season shortly after Mary passed away I thought here was some karma. If it is necessary I will do what is best for her but that brings me to 3 of my 4 westies desexed - not such a great start to my breeding plans, and there is probably no way I can talk OH into another . AAAARRRGGGHHH the frustration of it all.

A westie breeder said to me a little while ago noone would sell me a breedable bitch unless there was something wrong with it. Is it possible to get pet health records from her previous vet?

What to do?

[Red Mal]

Open Pyo is treatable and there isn't always the need to spey, NO. It depends on the extent of it. Antibiotics usually treat OP successfully.

If it was closed Pyo, then yes speying would be the answer.

Why would someone say you wouldnt get a breeding bitch unless it had health problems ?

[moirat]

Well that is a bit more encouraging, my vet did say he thought she should be right but then I had to do google it this morning and got myself all worked up.

Red Mal I don't know why this person would say that, I initially laughed that statement off, but then of course on the way home from the vet my mind was running at a thousand thoughts a minute and it occurred to me that perhaps this is why she was sold. Regardless I am just pleased things were spotted when they were and she is on the mend.

[Allerzeit]

moirat, I had a girl with an open Pyo many years ago. She was succesfuly treated and went on to whelp normally. She never had another pyometra

[Red Mal]

Moirat, no-one, including the breeder could have predicted Pyo. So I doubt if thats why she was sold. Some bitches get it, some dont'. Those that have had it (open) can go on successfully to have normal whelp in the future too, as Allerzeit said.

Hope this puts your mind at rest

[moirat]

Thanks for the encouraging words. It is good to have reassurance. Bloody Google, too much information for the uninitiated. I am please to hear that it may be possible to breed from her in the future. At least now I have an idea of what to keep my eyes out for in the future.

[Dogsfevr]

You should also consider her failure to conceive & the pyo

[moirat]

Is it likely that the two are connected?

[Skipy]

would pyometria have anything to do with dogs immune system or is it pure luck? Is there anything that you can do to 'strengthen' her immune system and possibly decrease chances of her getting it again?

[cowanbree]

I have had pyo a couple of times in older bitch’s and according to my vet once they have had it, it will return. He said if I wanted to we could treat the bitch but I would have to mate her next season and then spay.