Liz Buchanan BVSc MRCVS
Keymaster
Hello. You are right - female dogs can and do die from untreated pyometra. This is especially true of 'closed' pyometra (ie infection builds up in the womb without being seen and doesn't leak out), but can happen with open (leaky) ones too. However, the good news is that pyos are usually treatable. Furthermore, that your dog hasn't been diagnosed with a pyometra at this stage. There are multiple reasons for vulval / vaginal discharges; pyometra is just one of them. The discharge is frequently coloured and / or smelly, but not always. Other causes of discharge include a) vaginitis b) the product of a normal reproductive cycle or even c) hormonal complications, d) urinary abnormalities including cystitis, e) foreign bodies in that area, f) pregnancy, g) infectious problems and h) more. Therefore, a good next step would be to call your vets' emergency cover and ask for the case to be triaged. That is, the act of speaking to a veterinary professional during which time they will ask structured questions in order to decide how urgently the case needs to be seen. They will want to work out, for example, whether or not your pet might need to be physically assessed for a drip.
Wishing you all the best in getting to the bottom of this change; please will you let us know what happens next?
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