Pyometra....Poor Millie.

Thank goodness you've caught it in time; my first whippet came down with it when we were away on holiday and we mearly lost her. I've now gone completely about turn when it comes to spaying bitches and if they're not being bred from they must be spayed. I used to think the spaying operation was just a nice little money spinner for vets and people had their dogs operated on more for convenience sake than anything. Still annoyed that the vet didn't pick up on the warning signs years ago, though [and annoyed with myself also]. As you say, phew!!

Thanks, Tegan.

We're due to go away for the Bank Holiday weekend to a big family get-together. I was on the verge of breaking the news that we wouldn't be able to go as I couldn't leave Millie in kennels when a lovely friend offered to have her so she can continue her convalescence being pampered and fussed over. Peggy will go as well so they won't have to be apart.

Thank goodness for dog loving friends

Similar thing happened with our black lab Islay. Thr silver lining was that Petplan paid the not inconsidrable vet's bill and Islay went on to enjoy a full happy and long life until the ripe old age of 16. "Gute Besserung" Millie xx

I'm so glad we have them both insured, Soutra. We've had years of healthy dogs and not having to claim but this is the second claim this year. I know the premiums will go up but peace of mind is worth a lot.

Our cocker spaniel had pyometra when she was 9, had an emergency op and recovered well. She was the only dog we didn't have spayed. Would never risk it after that. She looked so poorly when we took her to the vet, even though it was immediately we saw she wasn't looking too good. Hope she recovers well, merlot

Hope Millie makes a full recovery Merlot. It's just as well you spotted it early.

What were the early signs? I still don't understand why my vet didn't realise what was wrong with my dog, although it did appear to be a bladder infection and my spaniels often seemed to get those. Of course, she improved with the antibiotics only to become seriously ill a few weeks later.

Millie went off her food on Saturday. I wormed both of them Sunday morning as a precaution but she wouldn't eat Sunday evening either. During the evening I noticed she was licking herself almost frantically. She was then sick, twice. I offered her water which she drank very quickly (they get dehydrated with pyometra) so I examined her vulva and saw a large amount of pus. That confirmed my fears so I checked on her three times during the night - thankfully she wasn't any worse this morning.

The vet only took a couple of minutes to confirm it and operated on her ASAP.

It's like the doggy equivalent of appendicitis. If you don't act quickly peritonitis is very likely to happen.

All's well though. She's doing fine.

And I think the confusion with a bladder infection is possibly due to the fact that drinking large amounts of water makes them urinate frequently.

I think the vet should have known the difference though.