13 | PUP SUN I T E .ORG petshealth high amounts of water. The veterinarian may also want to do imaging studies to confirm the diagnosis of pyometra. An x-ray can confirm an enlarged uterus and an ultrasound will verify structural abnormalities of the walls of the uterus, as well as the presence of fluid in the uterus. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment will begin. IV fluids and antibiotics will be administered, and the patient will be hospitalized. Once the patient is stable enough, she will be taken to surgery to undergo an ovariohysterectomy (spay). When pyometra is present, the procedure is more complicated than a traditional spay procedure and as such,carries an increased risk. As mentioned before, pyometras are an emergency condition and require rapid intervention to avoid sepsis and possible death. Prognosis varies widely, depending on how ill the patient is on presentation. A patient who is diagnosed in the early stages will have a good prognosis with surgical intervention. A patient who is severely ill on presentation may require a few nights hospital stay and will have a guarded prognosis. Once the patient is discharged from the hospital, home care involves pain medication, antibiotics, and exercise restriction for approximately 10 to 14 days. Pyometra is a serious infection that can result in death if not treated promptly. The best prevention is spaying your dog. By removing the uterus and ovaries, the heat cycles and uterine changes that contribute to pyometra will cease. Spaying a dog with a healthy uterus is much safer for the patient and costs considerably less than spaying a dog with pyometra. If you do not intend to breed your dog, speak with your veterinarian to determine the right time to spay!
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