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Pyometra in Cats

Pyometra in Cats

Pyometra, Pyo

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Updated on September 26, 2024

SUMMARY OF CONTENT

Pyometra in cats is a secondary bacterial uterine infection caused by a hormonal imbalance.

SEVERITY:

Severe, needs immediate veterinary treatment
  • Diagnosis Icon
    A rare condition, “Stump Pyometra”, can happen in spayed animals if an ovarian remnant is left behind.
  • Time to Cure
    Resolves within days to weeks with proper medical treatment and/or surgery but can be a fatal condition
  • Treatment Icon
    Treatable by a veterinarian
  • Prevention Icon
    Spaying female cats at an early age will prevent pyometra later in life
  • Spread Icon
    Transmission is not possible between animals, or from animals to people
  • Lab Icon
    Diagnosis requires physical exam, lab tests, x-rays, and/or ultrasound.

VERY COMMON IN

Pyometra is mainly a disease of middle-aged female cats that have not been spayed, but can occur in any intact, female cat that has gone through a heat cycle.

Symptoms & Signs

The most common sign of pyometra is a white, yellow or blood-tinged discharge from the vulva. The cat will lick at her vaginal area while the cervix is still open and the uterus is discharging a white fluid. The abdomen may appear distended and the cat may have a decreased appetite, vomiting or lethargy. Some cats will have a fever and some may become dehydrated. Many cats do not show any obvious signs of apparent illness beyond discharge, which they may easily hide if they are routinely grooming themselves, until late- stages of the disease. If blood work is done, it will show an elevated white blood cell count and possibly mild anemia.

Diagnosis

A physical exam of the cat followed by blood work and evaluation of any vaginal discharge may diagnose pyometra. An abdominal x-ray or ultrasound will be performed to confirm the diagnosis.

Causation

In the past, it was thought pyometra was simply a uterine infection. Today, we know that it is a hormonal abnormality, and a secondary bacterial infection may or may not be present. Pyometra follows a heat cycle in which fertilization did not occur. Typically, within one to two months after the cycle, the female starts showing signs of the disease. The two main hormones produced by the ovaries are estrogen and progesterone. An excessive quantity of progesterone, changes in the uterine wall leading to cysts forming, and introduction of bacteria into the uterus causes pyometra. Large quantities of fluids are produced and released into the interior of the uterus as the cysts grow. Bacteria commonly colonize the uterus by entering through the cervix. This produces an even greater response by the body, as it showers additional fluid and white blood cells into the affected organ. This fluid, along with a thickening of the walls of the uterus, brings about a dramatic increase in the overall size of this organ. As the disease  progresses, fluid moves from the uterus to the vagina and then spills out onto the vulva causing the animal to lick this area in an attempt to keep herself clean. In some cases of pyometra, the cervix closes. This effectively traps all of the fluid within the uterus. Still, the body continues to transfer more fluid and white blood cells into the organ, causing even further dilation and growth. The uterus can rupture, spilling its contents into the abdominal cavity. This would be a serious  and potentially fatal medical condition. The body will attempt to eliminate the problem by carrying the wastes and excess fluid through the bloodstream to the kidneys. The normal toxins that should be excreted from the body build up and overwhelm the kidneys, and the animal goes into uremic poisoning. If left untreated, she will die from kidney failure.

Treatments

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SUPPORTIVE CARE

Since toxicity may develop very quickly in cats with pyometra, it needs to be treated promptly. The cat may need intravenous fluids to treat shock and stabilize her condition. Monitor the incision site if surgery was performed.
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MEDICATIONS

In some females who must remain intact, prostaglandin and antibiotic therapy may be tried instead of surgery. The prostaglandin causes the uterus to contract and expel the fluid. In mild cases, when the cervix is still open and the fluid is draining, the success rate can be good. Prostaglandins, however, can have side effects including panting, vomiting and diarrhea. In some queens whose condition is unstable, the side effects are too severe and the treatment needs to be discontinued. Antibiotics will also be prescribed to treat infection.
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DEVICES

None
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SURGERY

In most cases, the preferred treatment is a complete ovariohysterectomy (spay). This removes the ovaries, oviducts, uterus and all associated blood vessels. These animals can be a surgical challenge because of their poor overall condition. Medicate as directed by your veterinarian. Pyometra is a life-threatening condition and cats with this suspected condition should be seen by your veterinarian immediately. Intravenous fluids are often recommended to reduce the chance of dehydration, especially for cats that are unwell or not drinking well on their own.
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SPECIALISTS

A general practice veterinarian typically manages pyometra in cats, however a veterinary specialist in surgery or critical care may be needed in severe cases.

Cost Of Treatment

While veterinary costs vary for a number of reasons, surgery to treat pyometra may cost between $1500 and $3000.

Recovery

Recovery from pyometra usually occurs within days to weeks depending on the type of treatment and response. In cats that are treated with and respond to medical therapy, the cat typically recovers within a week after medications are started. There is, however, a risk of recurrence after each heat cycle. With surgical correction, expected recovery time is generally expected within two weeks with no risk of recurrence as long as no ovarian remnant remains.

Monitoring

When medical therapy is used to treat pyometra, the cat needs to be monitored for recurrence by watching for common signs of pyometra, including decreased appetite, lethargy, vaginal discharge/licking, vomiting and fever. If surgery is performed, a follow-up examination will be scheduled 10-14 days after surgery for suture removal. If surgery is performed, the cat should be kept to a confined area with reduced activity and fit with a surgical cone or surgical recovery suit to help prevent manipulation of the sutures. Thoroughly inspect the cone or recovery suit often to ensure your pet does not have access to the surgical site.

Prevention

The best prevention of pyometra is to have all female cats spayed at or before six months of age. Pyometra is a fairly common and serious problem, but it is just one of many compelling reasons to have your female pet spayed at an early age.

Questions about Pyometra
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I have a cat that as a kitten was very ill. We got him from 7 months old. We knew he’d had cat flu prior to him coming here. He is now nearly 5 yrs old. He picks huge fights with our other cat. He keeps urinating and scratching at doors and windows around the house. We allow him to go out via the cat flap unlimited. What is happening to him

I'm glad to see that Pippin has been neutered because this eliminates that possibility of hormone-fueled behavioral changes and aggression. Behavioral changes in cats can occur at any point in time, and could be related to anxiety or stressful situations (even rearranging furniture or introducing new people to the home can be stressful to cats). Without a lot more information and observing Pippin's behaviors, I can't precisely tell you why these changes are occurring. It may be best to consult a veterinary behaviorist in your home so that they can observe everything firsthand. You can also try using calming pheromone collars or diffusers (Feliway is one example), and discussing the use of anxiety medication with Pippin's vet. I hope that all goes well!

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Hi! My cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes. He’s taking insulin and taking antibiotics for a Uti. It’s been 4 weeks and he wobles when he’s walking. He can’t jump up on the bed like he used to.He’s blood sugar is 250 it’s better than it used to. I don’t understand why he’s so wobbly.

Cats can develop what's called diabetic neuropathy, where their hindlegs become progressively weak. The best thing to do is try to get his diabetes under control as quickly as possible. Here is a link describing the conditon: http://www.diabeticcatcare.com/DCCCOK/Neuropathy.htm

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My senior cat has metastized cancer.17 yrs old. My vet gave her predizone1 and one half tabs a day.i wanted to know if i can just stop the meds.

Is there a reason you want to stop the prednisone? I would recommend not stopping it and if you feel it is better to stop the prednisone then I would recommend weaning off of the prednisone. I would discuss how to wean the prednisone with your veterinarian. Thank you for using Boop by Petco.

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My dog has an ear infection

Sorry to hear Marley isn't doing so well with his ears. It is not possible to tell from tge picture tve exact nature of the irritation but if it is indeed infected (typically red, hot, painful and smelly), he will need prescription medication from his regular vet. In the meantime I recommend gently cleaning tge outer war with cotton wool and a pet safe ear cleaner to reduce the build up of wax/discharge

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My 3 year old long haired tuxedo female pees just fine in the litter box, but she preferred to poop on the bathroom rug or on the carpet behind the sofa. Then, she will go weeks and everything is fine only start pooping outside the box again. I have 4 litter boxes and 3 cats. I clean all several times a day. She is the youngest. I've put wee wee pads down and she lifts them up and poops under them. Any ideas to help? Thanks!

A good first step, if you haven't already, is to rule out any health issues with your vet such as arthritis that may be causing the accidents. Secondly, making sure none of the other cats are bullying her away from the litter box may also alert you to any issues. Thirdly, a good enzymatic cleaner may help reduce the smell/discourage use of these areas in the future. That said, if you've done the above and the issue is still happening, it's probably time to call in a veterinary or animal behaviorist that can visit in person to see what may be going on. They may be able to check for stressors that could be causing the accidents where they are, look for issues with refusal to defecate in the box, or see if there is a cycle that is happening that is triggering this reaction. From there they may be able to set up a more tailored plan to help reduce the accidents and encourage use of the litter box at all times. If you're in the US, you can use this website to help find someone available in your area: https://www.dacvb.org/page/about

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There seems to be two wounds underneath my cat’s ear. There is not one on the other side. Does it look like ringworm or caused by fleas? What can I use to help her? It was smaller a week ago.

Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco with your question about Tor and for providing pictures, they are very helpful. Yes, I see the two wounds, and they could be caused by her scratching at her ear. While that could be due to fleas, it may be she has an ear infection causing her to scratch at her ears. Continually scratching at them would cause the wounds to get bigger. This does need to be checked out by a vet, as if she does have an ear infection, it could be caused by ear mites, yeast, or bacteria. In addition, the ear drum needs to be visualized through an otoscope to make sure it's still intact before any medication is given. Ear problems can be considered an emergency as leaving them untreated can lead to hearing loss. Given that these wounds are getting bigger, I'd see if you can get her into her vet asap. I hope this helps!

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Disclaimer

The information contained on this page is for educational purposes only. Treatment should only be provided under the advice of a veterinarian who has examined your pet under the laws applicable to your state of residence.