To spay or not to spay older female dogs - Page 3

Thanks, Sue.

 "The infection is never completely eradicated but reduced to a subclinical level."

So that explains what happened to my friend's bitch.

Thank you, Sue.

I didn't either, Sunsilver. I had a female that pyo'd after her second season. We treated her with prostagladins and antibiotics and she went on to have a normal litter her next season. We never bred her again, spayed her after she earned her AKC CH title.  I think she was around 4 when she was spayed. Some  suggest there is a genetic component to the hormonal aspect of pyo. I'm not sure. It might be interesting to research the genetic theory more. Maybe some here could contribute to that discussion.

I would recommend that anybody with an intact bitch who they don't intend to breed from or has finished breeding, if possible, to definitely have it spayed.

Unfortunately my GSD was unable to be spayed when younger, as she had a really bad adverse reaction to the anaesthetic when she was 3 years old, she had actually gone in to be spayed, was shaved and prepped for it then got into severe difficulties breathing and it took ages for my vet and the vet nurses to revive her. Obviously the spaying was aborted.

I got paranoid about her having pyometra at some time, knew all the symptoms to look for, even closed pyo and knew that if she did get it, a plan was in place for treating it.... she would be rushed to Liverpool Small Animal Teaching Hospital to have the op done - which was exactly what happened. The facilities there are second to none, so any anaesthetic probs would be minimal hopefully as the right up-to-date equipment would be there.

In April this year, aged 8 years old she did develop pyo, started off as closed and after xrays at my vets confirming what was wrong, it went to an open pyo on the way to the teaching hospital. I guessed it was pyo before rushing her to my vet, by her high temp, huge distended belly, excessive thirst and the symptoms showing within 8 weeks from the date of her last season. Her uterus was so huge it was actually squashing other organs and I was warned it might rupture when they tried to remove it, because of the size.  Luckily the operation was a success and I was allowed to collect her the next day, after being told that she would be staying in for 4 or 5 days. Since that date she hasn't looked back, she has been healthy and with an appetite to match!

Some bitches don't show the obvious signs that my dog did and it must be extremely difficult for the uninitiated not to recognise and also not know how serious pyo is. A few people I spoke to after Kira having her op had never heard of pyometra and they were dog owners!

I have got an entire 11 month old Border Collie who was going to have his nads off when he was 7 or 8 months old just before what would have been when Kira had her season in Sept. I can now delay this and let him mature a bit more but they will be off after Xmas.... maybe later if his testosterone level doesn't rise too high, but definitely before he is 18 months old.

 

Thanks Sue! Further PROOF that it IS a bacterial infection related to the changes in structure and hormones from estrus.
Debby

My bitch with an open pyo did not have a bacterial infection--only a problem with progesterone. Ed Feldman (DVM. specialist in internal medicine, endocrinology, and repro at UC DAVis VMTH) had me treat my bitch at home with 2 courses of injections of PGF2a.  I also did all of her lab work (CBC. PCV/TS) at home. She had her uterus ultrasounded at the VMTH until there was no longer evidence of of fluid in it. She received no antibiotics. Although she (SG Riesenblut's Renaisance 8 AKC points, Herding Started title, OFA hips/elbows) was bred immediately after these successful treatments, I waited until she was an older bitch for her last 3 litters. She produced on AKC champion, and an excellentworking herding daughter, and an SG rated SchH-titled male sired by my German-bred male.

In the majority of cases of pyo, it looks like hormones initiate the right environment for pyo and an opportunistic bacterial infection is secondary. I wouldn't argue that pyo must always be treated with antibiotics; a culture and sensitivity on a carefully collected sample of the discharge would be the way to know that for certain. Sunsilver's example makes a good case for administering antibiotics to prevent a recurrance. I can see no good reason to not use antibiotics in most females with pyo. Sort of a fail safe thing.

Has anyone had 2 generations of females that pyo'd or any other reason to wonder if it may have a genetic component?

Just posted these on my website some good reads on the subject:

Spaying, Neutering and Cancer http://www.dogcancerblog.com/spaying-neutering-and-cancer-in-rottweilers/

Is Early Neutering Hurting Pets? http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vet-practice-news-columns/bond-beyond/is-early-neutering-hurting-pets.aspx

Early Spay-Neuter Considerations for the Canine Athlete : http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html

oops these didnt come through on the first run

Spaying Older Dogs  http://www.vetinfo.com/dspay.html

Pyometra in old female dogs - To spay or not to spay? Is there a choice? http://veterinarymedicinesingapore.blogspot.com/2008/06/3-pyometra-in-old-female-dogs-to-spay.html