Piometrite canina. Revisão de literatura e análise de dois casos

Abstract

Pyometra is the disease that attacks most the female reproductive tract of the canine species. Both old female dogs and the young ones that are not castrated are susceptible. The main cause consists on a hormonal unbalance usually from endogenous origin (old females) or from exogenous (young females). The uterus under progestheron effect becomes easy to rise bacterial infections, mainly those caused by Escherichia coli. Therefore, the uterus becomes full of pus causing an increasing abdominal volume, anorexia, depression, fever, among others, and the animal may have signals of toxemia and septicemia. Pyometra is classified in open or closed depending on the degree of the cervix disobstruction. Patients with closed cervix are powerfully capable of serious clinical signs. Laboratory, radiologic and ultrasonic wave tests are used as auxiliaries to diagnose and to differ from other disease (pyovaginits, twisted uterus, etc) or even pregnancy. One of the most common injuries caused by pyometra out of the reproductive breating is glomerulopathy caused by immunocomplexes that lead the female to present kidney malfunction. If it is treated on time, there are chances to be revertible. Nowadays, there are two kinds of treatment for uterine infection that are based mainly on the importance or not of keeping the female reproductive capacity. Both treatments use fluidtherapy and antibiotics of a wide spectrum. The medical treatment is for reproductive females that were not severely affected by the disease, consisting on applying prostaglandine injections. There is a big risk of recurrence. The surgical treatment is the most advised, because it is definitively healed. It is recommended both in non-reproductive females, useakened animals/ toxemia and females with closed pyometra. The veterinarian must know to diagnose pyometra in the female dog as soon as possible and apply the right treatment, in order to save his patient’s life.