Meet gentle natured Ruby, the 4-year-old American Staffordshire Bull Terrier, who was recently rushed into surgery to treat a life-threatening condition called a pyometra or infection of the uterus. This life-threatening disease is one of the most common conditions seen in undesexed adult and senior female dogs. It is preventable by ensuring your dog is desexed as a puppy (or as is now recommended in large breed dogs, around a year old).

Pyometra is a serious condition that can develop in female pets that have not been desexed. It is more common in middle-aged to older dogs but cats are not immune from the condition.

Over time, there are changes to a female's reproductive tract that can lead to thickening of the uterus and formation of cysts. These cysts provide a perfect environment for bacteria to replicate and the thickened uterus has trouble contracting to remove the bacteria.

The result can be a septic uterus and this is a very serious and potentially life threatening condition.

Signs of pyometra:

• Increased thirst

• Lethargy

• Vomiting

• Loss of appetite

• There may or may NOT be vaginal discharge

Treatment needs to be aggressive and surgical intervention to remove the uterus and ovaries (spey) is almost always necessary. Some pets will also require intravenous fluid and antibiotic therapy as well as intensive care.

The good news is that desexing your female pet will prevent this condition and it will also help reduce the likelihood of other diseases such as breast cancer.

We strongly recommend that all non-breeding female pets are desexed, and we are happy to answer any questions you might have.