If your cat is a male or a spayed female, he or she will never suffer from this medical problem. Pyometra is a condition involving a female cat’s infected uterus.
According to PetPlace.com, this condition can be life threatening and sometimes requires emergency surgery. Cats with pyometra can suffer from an open infection that drains from the vagina or a closed episode in which pus is trapped within the uterus by a closed cervix. The second type is considered more urgent than the first since pus cannot drain. When they receive early treatment for pyometra, around 90 percent of afflicted cats survive.
All female cats that remain unsprayed are susceptible to this infection. However, when their heat cycles are dormant between September and December each year, pyometra is uncommon. The only way to prevent a female cat from developing this affliction is spaying before the illness takes hold.
The primary symptoms include vaginal discharge, lethargy and lack of appetite. Also be on the lookout for depression, vomiting, diarrhea and drinking huge amounts of water, then urinating frequently.
If your cat shows any of these signs, you should get her to a veterinarian right away. It’s also important to bring any medical records with you. The vet will ask a series of questions regarding the cat’s behavior, such as recent eating pattern and demeanor, and will also take a detailed medical history.
Once the vet has finished a complete physical, including a vaginal check, he or she with want to order blood work to look for abnormal white cell counts. In addition to confirming an infection, this lab work can detect kidney function abnormalities, which can develop as a secondary problem to pyometra.
The vet will also take a urine specimen to evaluate the cat’s kidney function and to rule out a urinary tract infection. Abdominal X-rays can also reveal a uterus filled with fluid, a typical sign of pyometra. Performing an ultrasound is also helpful and can show that there is no early pregnancy.
Once pyometra has been confirmed, the preferred treatment is to spay the cat in a procedure known as an ovariohysterectomy. However, if the cat’s condition makes immediate surgery impossible, the vet will attempt to first stabilize the animal using IV fluids in antibiotics. This is mandatory if the cat is suffering from septic shock once kidney failure has developed.
The standard care for this condition doesn’t rely on medical care alone. The use of hormonal treatment, which has a two-day delay as far as taking effect, sometimes results in a cat’s death.
You should never try home care to treat a cat with the symptoms of pyometra. After your cat has surgery and returns home, however, you should keep a close watch on his or her appetite, demeanor and eating and drinking patterns in order to report any changes. Your vet should also give you instructions on checking the cat’s incision to make sure healing is progressing normally.
Reference:
- PetPlace.com web site
