Content
- What is Pyometra?
- How does pyometra happen in cats
- Pyometra symptoms in cats
- Diagnosis
- Pyometra treatment
- Prevention of pyometra in cats
Despite what is said about the multiple lives of cats, the truth is that felines are extremely delicate animals, although they are resistant to viral and bacterial diseases, they can suffer certain pathologies if we do not pay attention to the health of our pets as we should.
You've certainly heard that if you have a cat and you don't spay her, she can eventually develop some diseases related to your uterus and your reproductive system, which sometimes have fatal consequences.
That's why we at Animal Expert want to talk to you about pyometra in cats - symptoms and treatment, because it is a disease that can affect your feline friend without you knowing, being potentially dangerous for her.
What is Pyometra?
Is infection that can develop the females of some species of mammals, such as female cats, bitches, ferrets and guinea pigs. consists of the accumulation of pus in the uterine matrix.
In cats, pyometra appears to be at an advanced age, starting at 8 years of age, although it is also possible to develop in young cats who have received injections or pills to stop heat, or other therapies with estrogen and progesterone.
The disease manifests suddenly and can be fatal, since complications involve the appearance of peritonitis and septicemia.
How does pyometra happen in cats
The cat can contract some bacteria during the last part of the heat, either the Escherichia coli or another. During this period of heat, the progesterone levels are taller, which favors infection.
When the cat is ready to receive the male assembly, bacteria take advantage of the opening of the vagina to cross the animal's body to the cervix. During mating, when the egg is not fertilized, the uterus distends and the mucosa that has not been fertilized becomes a channel for storing bacteria.
The disease can also develop from other bacteria that are already in the animal's blood, vulnerable to the use of hormones administered during treatment. Another possibility would be when the product of irregular thermal cycles, the uterus degenerates and causes a condition called Cystic Endometrial Hyperplasia (HEC) making the development of bacteria prone, resulting in pyometra.
Thus, cats that develop pyometra are those that had a heat during which no fertilization took place, and that received therapies involving the use of progesterone.
Pyometra symptoms in cats
Pyometra in cats has general symptoms, and some are related to the type of pyometra that the cat has developed. Among the general symptoms, it is possible to mention:
- vomiting
- Lethargy
- Fatigue
- loss of appetite
- Polydipsia, increased water consumption
- Polyuria, frequent urination
- Dehydration
On the other hand, the pyrometer can be opened or closed:
- open pyometra: the animal's abdomen is distended due to the accumulation of pus inside the body. The cat excretes through vaginal secretions with a foul odor, either pus or blood.
- closed pyometra: when the cat suffers from this variation of the disease, the discomfort is even greater, since the abdomen is distended, but no secretion is expelled from the vulva. As a result, the matrix can burst and produce peritonitis, which is fatal.
As the matrix fills with pus and this organ is designed to accommodate the litter during pregnancy, its storage capacity is very large, causing pyometra cannot be seen, but when several weeks have passed the infection cycle has started.
If the disease is detected early enough, as is often the case with closed pyometra, the pus found in the matrix can end up transmitting the bacteria to the blood of the rest of the body, causing septicemia due to this generalized infection, which brings the animal's death.
THE peritonitis it can also occur if the uterus distends beyond its capacity, or if the animal receives a blow that, due to swelling, causes the uterus to rupture.
Diagnosis
Given the suspicion of a pyometra in your cat, you should take her to your veterinarian to perform the necessary tests and check or rule out the presence of the disease.
For the diagnosis to be complete, it will be necessary to perform ultrasounds, radiographs, complete blood and chemistry tests. Only then is it possible to determine the type of pyometra, the severity of the state of the matrix and uterus, and the extent of the infection, determining whether it was complicated by damage to the liver, kidneys or other organs.
Pyometra treatment
The most advisable in the case of pyometra is to resort to surgery to remove theuterus and ovaries of the cat, which is called ovariohysterectomy. Before operating, it will be necessary to assess the degree of influence of other organs and stabilize the animal's body with antibiotics and plenty of fluids to fight infection and dehydration.
With surgery, pyometra infection is completely eradicated, as the organs in which the disease occurs are eliminated. However, if the cat has developed kidney problems as a result of the infection, recovery can be complicated.
However, there is still a drug treatment, which is chosen when the general health of the animal does not allow an operation, or when you want to preserve the feline's reproductive capacities. This treatment seeks to expel the pus that has accumulated in the uterus and then attack the infection. After cleaning the uterus completely, ultrasounds will need to be performed for several months at a time to detect possible reinfection.
It will be the veterinarian who can suggest the most suitable and safe method for the animal, according to the complications of the case.
Prevention of pyometra in cats
sterilize the cat it avoids this and any other problem related to estrus cycles after which the gestation period does not start, so this is the most recommended option. Additionally, there are a number of advantages of neutering a cat.
Likewise, it is advisable avoid using birth control pills to stop the heat. If you don't want the animal to have puppies, simply resort to neutering. The use of hormones, as we have already mentioned, can cause pyometra.
Finally, we remember that it is important to keep a control over the reproductive system of the cat, in case you suspect some disease. Going to the vet every 6 months is the best way to prevent and detect any illness in time.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.