Pyometra

Question. My dogs last heat was Dec 11 2023. She's 7yrs old. Just found out she has pyometra. She just starting bleeding today so I assumed it's open pyometra. Took her to an animal hospital and they said her vitals are good and her xray shows an inflamed uterus with pus pockets. They put her antibiotics and scheduled her for surgery for Friday morning. From what I hear I shouldn't be waiting that long. She is eating fine, acting fine, drink and using the bathroom fine. Her vitals are good. What do you think? Also they seen her liver is enlarge and pushing on one side. Could this be do to the pyometra? Hoping it's not cancer. I'm so upset and have so much anxiety. Please help.

Hello - presumably your vets didnt x-ray a healthy dog and announce that she had a pyometra?  There is no history here but it sounds as though she must have been showing signs of illness consistent with pyometra, then the picture showed relevant internal signs, thus confirming the suspicion?  In an open (discharging / leaking) pyo the discharge is frequently smelly and green, but not always.  'How are you sure that this is a pyo not an ordinary season, vaginal infection or miscarriage' is an excellent question for your vet if you are unsure.  Your understanding of the situation is part of informed consent for an operation, so asking is imortant. The vet might further be able to cross reference their findings with an ultrasound scan.  This may give you more information, but may also incurr a longer wait.  Offsetting the time and financial costs of more tests and drugs against the vets' certainty and the ideal waiting time is a value judgement.  Short waiting times are not always best.  Females with open pyometra can present long before they are critically ill and this gives the vet the luxury of choosing a good time for the op, with optimal fluids / drugs on board and the best team of staff in attendence and lower comication risk.   In summary, the questions you seem to want answered are:  how do you know that this couldnt be anything else?  And: if so, is it safe to wait?  Are the antibiotics necessary?  I dont know your dogs' personal circumstances but your vet does - and we always appreciate clients asking these questions, because then we can give you the information that you need, as specific to your dogs' case.

Finally, it is absolutely normal to feel anxious prior to surgery for your dog and it is important that you understand what is going on and why.   In my experience, it helps to have a list on your phone or pen and paper, and write questions down as they occur to you.  This way, when yu next speak to your vets, you can make sure that you get everything straight.   Even when my family are ill, I rite down the answers in the consultation.  I find that it helps.

Finally, it is absolutely normal to feel anxious prior to surgery for your dog and it is important that you understand what is going on and why.   In my experience, it helps to have a list on your phone or pen and paper, and write questions down as they occur to you.  This way, when yu next speak to your vets, you can make sure that you get everything straight.   Even when my family are ill, I write down the answers in the consultation.  I find that it helps.

Finally, it is absolutely normal to feel anxious prior to surgery for your dog and it is important that you understand what is going on and why.   In my experience, it helps to have a list on your phone or pen and paper, and write questions down as they occur to you.  This way, when yu next speak to your vets, you can make sure that you get everything straight.   Even when my family are ill, I write down the answers in the consultation.  I find that it helps.