A uterine infection is not exactly fun for your dog. It hurts quite a bit and medical care is extremely important if your dog is that sick. All unspayed female dogs of any breed can get a uterine infection. As the dog gets older, the risk of uterine infection increases even more. Of all unspayed female dogs, approximately 25% or more get uterine infection! This is of course an awful lot, so one way to treat it is to have the dog spayed or have the uterus removed.
In this blog, we will delve deeper into the causes, symptoms, and treatments of canine uterine inflammation, to help owners recognize this condition and act promptly to protect the health of their beloved pets.
What is a uterine infection?
Uterine inflammation, also known as pyometra, is a serious condition that can affect both female dogs and older bitches. This condition occurs when the dog’s uterus becomes inflamed and fills with pus. Pyometra can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
Symptoms of a uterine infection
You can recognize a uterine infection by various symptoms, these are a yellow to white fluid from the vulva, the fact that your dog drinks a lot, lethargy of the dog, such a high fever and very red mucous membranes.
In addition to the symptoms mentioned, dogs with uterine inflammation may also show other behavioral changes, such as loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. Owners may also notice that their dog tries to urinate more often and has difficulty urinating. In addition, an enlarged and painful abdomen may be noticed, and sometimes there is even a noticeable swelling in the abdominal and uterine area.
It is essential to understand that not all symptoms are always obvious and that they can vary from dog to dog. Some dogs may only show a few of these signs, while others may show a combination of symptoms. Therefore, it is crucial to be alert to changes in your dog’s behavior and health and always consult a veterinarian if in doubt.
Untreated uterine inflammation can lead to serious complications, including rupture of the uterine wall, which is a life-threatening emergency. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment of this condition is paramount to ensuring the well-being of your dog. In the next section, we will discuss how uterine inflammation in dogs is diagnosed and treated.
Treating Your Dog’s Uterine Infection
A uterine infection in your dog is not so difficult to recognize at a vet. Often you as an owner know quickly that your dog behaves differently than before. Your dog drinks and pees a lot more, appetite is less, zest for life is reduced and a fluid can come from the vulva. Often the vet already knows if the dog has the symptoms above. The vet will examine your dog.
It is possible that treatment will take place and that an ultrasound or X-ray will be made. This additional examination is necessary so that you know for sure that your dog has an infection and not that there is another cause. The treatment for a uterine infection in your dog is namely the removal of the entire uterus and ovaries of the animal.
Removal of the uterus in case of uterine inflammation
It is possible to remove a dog’s uterus if she is suffering from a uterine infection, a procedure known as an ovariohysterectomy or simply “swabbing the uterus.” This is often the most effective and definitive treatment for uterine infection in dogs.
The surgery to remove the uterus is performed by a veterinarian and aims to eliminate the infection and prevent further complications. During the surgery, both the uterus and the ovaries are removed. Removing the ovaries, also called ovariectomy, prevents the future development of uterine inflammation and some other reproductive disorders.
This procedure is a safe and effective way to restore your dog’s health and save her life if she is suffering from a severe uterine infection. It is important to note that the surgery means the end of your dog’s reproductive capacity, so if you were planning on breeding your dog, this will no longer be possible after the surgery. Always consult your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and to discuss which treatment options are best for your dog.
Cost of a dog’s uterine infection
If your dog has a uterine infection, you really need to go to the vet. The only treatment possible for this infection is to remove the uterus and ovaries. Your dog is, as it were, sterilized. The costs of sterilizing a dog vary per dog, it depends on the weight of your dog. A smaller dog is therefore cheaper than a heavy dog, that is of course logical. In addition, the prices vary per vet.
For smaller dogs, the price of treatment is around 225 and 450 euros. If you have a large dog, the costs are quickly 750 to 1000 euros. Because your dog has a life-threatening uterine infection, you may have to pay more: the vet usually had to do multiple treatments and sometimes had to operate urgently, which is why the price is sometimes slightly higher.
Insuring your dog
As you can see, you will spend quite a bit of money on the entire treatment for the uterine inflammation. However, you can also choose to insure your dog , the advantage of this is that with certain insurances you can simply declare all treatments for the uterine inflammation with the insurer.
This is of course ideal if you have a dog that is known to have a high risk of inflammation. It depends a bit on the type of dog whether you have a high risk of inflammation, you can also see this on the internet. Not every type of dog has an equally high risk, but do you really want to take that risk? Of course you pay a premium per month, but if you often make costs for the dog, you will always end up spending less money than before.
Do you want to view and take out a cheap dog insurance? Then take a look at our pet insurance comparator , so you can see exactly what the price of the monthly premium is for a certain insurance or an insurer. The benefits of the insurance in question are also listed, so you can make a choice more quickly. We would like to help you on your way to taking out the cheapest possible insurance!
