You & Your Pet by Dr. Wise

Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association 11 South Angell Street #347 · Providence, RI 02906 (401) 751-0944(401) 780-0940 · Fax · rivma@rivma.org

Our veterinarian just gave us a very upsetting report on Rosie, our 12-year-old beagle.  He said she has an infected uterus and will die if it is not removed.  Are there other options?   She seems old to be having surgery, although until this infection she has been healthy.

Rosie has pyometra, which is an accumulation of pus, or infectious material, in the uterus.  An infection of the uterus is a very serious matter.  Your veterinarian is right -- unless Rosie's uterus is removed she may be in grave danger.  The lining of the uterine wall will deteriorate as the infection worsens.  The uterus actually can rupture allowing the infection to fill the abdominal cavity.  Your veterinarian has examined Rosie and apparently feels that she is healthy enough for surgery.  Even so, I can understand your concern about whether Rosie's body can withstand the anesthetic and the surgery.

Today's newer and better anesthetics make it unnecessary to rule out surgery because of a pet's age.  Most veterinary clinics use inhaled anesthetics which are similar to those used in human hospitals.  We also have more types of safe injectable anesthetics than ever before.  As an additional precaution, your veterinarian may administer fluids and antibiotics through a catheter in Rosie's vein to prevent shock and keep her kidneys functioning properly. 

I am sorry to say that Rosie's current problems easily could have been prevented by the early removal of her uterus, either when she was six months old or after her breeding days were over.  Commonly called spaying, this surgery is important for preventing uterine infections as well as for birth control.  Early spaying also prevents mammary tumors which are often cancerous in older dogs. 

Inhaled anesthetics greatly improve Rosie's chances for surviving the surgery.  These new anesthetics also give us a lot more confidence when we work on an older animal's teeth.  It is necessary to anesthetize an animal to deal properly with infected teeth and gums.  We are learning more and more about geriatric dogs and cats.  Rosie is the lucky beneficiary of that knowledge.

This information, prepared as a public service by the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association, answers problems Rhode Island veterinarians currently are seeing in their practices, as well as new developments in animal care.