A Retrospective study of suspected canine pyometra at the small animal teaching hospital, Chiang Mai University, Thailand during 2016 - 2018

Abstract

The disease which causes of economical loss and might be death in intact female dog is pyometra. The objective of this study was evaluated of the proportion, incidence of suspected canine pyometra, mortality rate, the factor relates suspected pyometra dog’s death, and cost of treatment during 2016 to 2018 at the small animal teaching hospital, Chiang Mai university. During the study period, there were 35,138 female dogs visiting to the hospital and 375 dogs were suspected with pyometra (1.07 %). 345 dogs were undergoing surgery at the hospital. The age of dogs was ranged by 11 months old to 16 years old (median was seven years). The most presented breed of pyometra dogs were mongrel breed (134/345, 37.33%), Poodle (51/345,14.67%) and Shih tzu (43/345,12.27%), respectively. There were three dogs died before surgery. Thirty-four dogs from 345 dogs (9.86%) died after surgical treatment: nine dogs died within 12 hours after surgery, seven dogs died between 12 hours and one week, eight dogs died more than one week and 10 dogs no data about death time. The factor relate suspected pyometra’s dog death is uterine rupture and also the most predisposing cause of uterine problem is injected medroxyprogesterone acetate as contraceptive drug. The cost of treatment about 4,856.97 ± 1,938.97, 8,236.69 ± 4,348.18, and 8,565.35 ± 5,038.78 baht, in year 2016 to 2018, respectively From this study, the veterinary and the dog’s owner should concern about the uterine diseases in intact female dog. To prevention the disease by schedule surgical ovariohysterectomy (OVH) in young dog is important. To decrease the mortality, peri-operative intensive care, close monitoring the clinical signs and also performing blood examinations are recommended. Moreover, avoid using contraceptive drug should educate to the owner.