Pyometra in Pets: Why Emergency Surgery Can Save Your Dog or Cat’s Life

If you have a female pet, you need to know the signs. It often starts with something subtle: your dog seems tired, skips dinner, or your cat hides more than usual. Within hours or days, these vague symptoms can spiral into a life-threatening infection called pyometra. This uterine infection is most often seen in unspayed female dogs, though cats can also be affected. Without urgent surgery, pyometra can quickly become fatal.

At Emergency Pet Hospital of Glendora, we treat pyometra as the emergency it is. If your pet shows unusual lethargy, fever, or discharge, don’t wait. Prompt care is the difference between life and loss.

What Exactly Is Pyometra?

Pyometra is a dangerous bacterial infection of the uterus. It is most common in middle-aged to older dogs soon after a heat cycle, but it can affect cats as well.

There are several forms of this disease:

  • Open pyometra: the cervix remains open, allowing pus to drain through the vagina. Owners often notice discharge.
  • Closed pyometra: the cervix is sealed, trapping infection inside. This is the most dangerous type because symptoms may remain hidden until the pet is critically ill.
  • Stump pyometra: rarely, spayed pets develop pyometra if small amounts of uterine or ovarian tissue were left behind during surgery.

In cats, pyometra can progress quickly and is harder to recognize since cats are skilled at hiding illness.

How to Spot the Symptoms of Pyometra

Early warning signs are often mistaken for “just not feeling well.” Common symptoms include:

  • Lethargy or unusual tiredness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Increased thirst and urination (more common in dogs)
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Fever, shivering, or panting
  • Swollen abdomen
  • Vaginal discharge (with open pyometra)

Cats may instead show vague changes like hiding, reduced grooming, or irritability. Even spayed pets with stump pyometra may appear sick with fever, abdominal pain, and discharge. These signs, combined with a recent heat cycle, are red flags.

Why Pyometra Is Always an Emergency

Unlike some conditions that can be monitored at home, pyometra progresses rapidly and can become life-threatening within days. Potential complications include:

  • Sepsis (body-wide infection)
  • Kidney failure from circulating toxins
  • Uterine rupture spilling pus into the abdomen
  • Multi-organ failure

The AAHA guide to pet emergencies clearly states: pyometra requires immediate veterinary treatment. Waiting is not an option.

How Veterinarians Diagnose Pyometra

When a pet presents with suspicious symptoms, diagnosis starts with stabilizing the patient. At Emergency Pet Hospital of Glendora, this often means placing an IV catheter, giving fluids, and checking blood pressure.

Diagnostics may include:

  • Bloodwork to assess white blood cell count, kidney and liver function, and hydration
  • Radiographs (X-rays) to look for an enlarged, fluid-filled uterus
  • Ultrasound to confirm pyometra and differentiate it from other abdominal issues
  • Urinalysis to evaluate kidney impact and rule out other infections

These tests not only confirm pyometra but also guide anesthesia safety and treatment planning.

Why Surgery Is the Only Cure

While antibiotics may temporarily reduce symptoms, they cannot cure pyometra.

  • In open pyometra, antibiotics may reduce bacteria briefly, but infection always returns.
  • In closed pyometra, no medication can penetrate the sealed uterus.
  • In stump pyometra, infected tissue remains until it is surgically removed.

The only effective treatment is emergency ovariohysterectomy (removal of the uterus and ovaries) or surgical excision of infected stump tissue.

Because these pets are often unstable, surgery is more complex than a routine spay. Supportive care includes:

  • Bloodwork to assess organ function and anesthesia risk
  • IV fluids for hydration and blood pressure support
  • Pain management and broad-spectrum antibiotics
  • Careful anesthesia monitoring with ECG, oxygen levels, and temperature control

Our emergency services include in-house lab testing, advanced imaging, and skilled surgical care, allowing us to stabilize and treat pyometra quickly.

Life-Saving Critical Care After Surgery

Surgery removes the source of infection, but recovery depends on aggressive post-operative support. Pets with pyometra often require:

  • ICU hospitalization for 24–72 hours
  • IV antibiotics to clear infection
  • Pain control for comfort and healing
  • Fluid therapy to correct dehydration and flush toxins
  • Monitoring of heart rate, respiratory function, and urine output
  • Nutritional support once vomiting subsides

Complications like sepsis, low blood pressure, or abnormal clotting are not uncommon in critical pyometra patients, so round-the-clock monitoring is vital.

The Risks of Delaying Surgery

Every hour matters when pyometra is suspected. Without surgery, pets risk:

  • Uterine rupture, releasing infection into the abdomen
  • Kidney failure from circulating toxins
  • Sepsis and shock
  • Painful decline and death

Even if antibiotics improve symptoms temporarily, infection always returns. Surgery performed promptly offers the best chance of survival and recovery. Mortality is significantly higher when treatment is delayed.

Prevention: Why Spaying Is Life-Saving

The only way to completely prevent pyometra is to spay your pet before infection develops. The AAHA life stage guidelines recommend discussing spay timing with your veterinarian.

Spaying also offers additional health benefits:

Proper surgical technique is also key in preventing stump pyometra.

Caring for a Pet After Pyometra Surgery

Recovery is more involved than a routine spay but is typically smooth with proper care.

Post-op instructions often include:

  • Using an Elizabethan collar to protect the incision
  • Strict activity restriction for 10–14 days
  • Giving all prescribed antibiotics and pain medication as directed
  • Daily incision checks for redness, swelling, or discharge
  • Feeding small meals at first and slowly transitioning back to a normal diet
  • Scheduling recheck visits to ensure healing and remove sutures if necessary

With attentive aftercare, most pets regain energy quickly once the infection is resolved.

When to Call the Vet

Seek immediate care if your unspayed female shows any of the following:

  • Fever, vomiting, or refusal to eat
  • Excessive thirst or urination
  • Vaginal discharge after a heat cycle
  • Abdominal swelling or pain

Even spayed pets can develop stump pyometra, so similar signs should not be ignored. If you notice these changes, contact us right away.

Quick Action Saves Lives

Pyometra is one of the most serious reproductive emergencies seen in dogs and cats. Left untreated, it is almost always fatal. With urgent surgery, however, most pets make a full recovery.

At Emergency Pet Hospital of Glendora, we are here overnight on weekdays and 24/7 on weekends and holidays to provide emergency surgery and critical care when your pet needs it most.

500 S Glendora Ave, Glendora, CA 91740
(626) 702-2436
Mon–Fri: 6:00pm–8:00am | Weekends & Holidays: 24 hours

Meet our team or explore our services to learn how we care for pets in urgent situations.