Pyometra in a 10-month-old female dog: Case report

Abstract

Pyometra is a potentially fatal infectious pathology that affects the endometrium of female dogs, characterized by the accumulation of pus in the uterine lumen. In general, this pathology occurs in the period of diestrus, due to the ascending bacterial infection that finds a favorable environment for its multiplication in the endometrium that has suffered cystic hyperplasia as a result of the cumulative and prolonged stimulus of female hormones. Normally, it does not have a racial predisposition and affects more middle-aged and elderly animals, from the 4th estrous cycle onwards. Young animals rarely present this pathology and, when it occurs, it is usually associated with the use of exogenous progestogens. The objective of this work is to report the case of a female English Bulldog, 10 months old, who did not use exogenous progestogens, diagnosed with pyometra. The patient was attended to by the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro with a mucohemorrhagic vulvar discharge for 24 hours. According to the tutor, the bitch had presented her first heat 13 days before the appointment. In the general physical examination, the patient presented clinical parameters within normal limits, with the exception of temperature (fever), respiratory rate (tachypnea), heart rate (tachycardia), and blood lactate (increased). Due to the presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (tachypnea, tachycardia and fever) associated with a possible infectious focus, a complete blood count and renal and hepatic serum biochemistry were requested. In the hemogram, neutrophilic leukocytosis was evaluated, indicating an inflammatory/infectious process and, in the serum biochemistry, hepatic dysfunction was observed. Abdominal ultrasonography was also performed to assess the presence of anechoic content within the uterine horns, suggestive of pyometra. The patient was then referred to surgery for an ovariohysterectomy where the infectious focus was removed. Then, sterile uterine material was collected for culture and antibiogram, obtaining a positive result for two types of bacteria, Streptococcus sp and non-fermenting Gram-negative Rod. Antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics were prescribed postoperatively, in addition to daily bandage, surgical clothing and protective collar. There were no intercurrences in the trans or postoperative period of the patient, who had no recurrence of clinical signs, and was discharged 10 days after surgery.