Spay Your Pets!

We saw a beautiful dog a couple of weeks ago that was very ill and within days of possibly dying.  The physical examination revealed pyometra.
 
Pyometra is the medical term used to describe an infected uterus.
 

Pyometra can be a life threatening infection and may even require emergency surgery.  If left untreated, dogs may become very ill and many do not survive. With early treatment (usually emergency surgery, as our patient received), about 90 percent of affected dogs recover.

 

Since pyometra is an infection of the uterus, all unspayed dogs are susceptible. Usually, pyometra occurs within eight weeks of the dog's last heat cycle due to increased levels of the hormone progesterone.  Dogs and cats do not go through menopause, so their ovaries and uterus are always under some sort of hormonal control.

 

Please watch for:

Vaginal discharge

Lethargy

Lack of appetite

Depression

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Drinking excessive amounts of water and urinating often

Please spay your pets!  The ovaries and uterus are removed so pyometra cannot occur.  The uterus below is about 5-6 times the normal size and full of pus.

Dogs and Fast Moving Cars Don't Mix!

Today we operated on a 4 month old puppy whose hip was shattered when she was hit by a car.  The surgery went well and she should recover nicely but will probably have a limp.  The best prevention is to keep your pets confined or on a leash and out of the road.  Dogs and cats don't realize that they are in danger when in or close to moving vehicles so it is our responsibility to protect them.  However, accidents do occur, but let's do our best to protect!

It's Still Hot Out There!

Remember your dogs and cats when it is so hot outdoors.  Many are not acclimated to the heat and humidity since they spend much of their time indoors in the air conditioning (as many of us).  Just a short play time outside is enough to cause a life-threatening heat stroke. 

We have seen several cases recently with some deaths and several dogs who will have life-long health issues after they recovered.  The brain, kidneys, and digestive tract do not like being overheated to 108!