Karen Gadke, Ph.D. (Health Science) is a retired clinical study specialist, medical writer, and lecturer. She has been training and racing sled dogs, many of them rescued huskies, for 30 years. She owns both Siberians and Alaskans. Karen is an internationally published author on animal issues, awareness and education and a welcome addition to AFSBC.

 Have a question for Karen? Contact her at:

info@animalfriendsbc.org

December 2012/January 2013 

Information you can use to keep your pets healthy.  Remember, prevention of troubles is always better – and definitely cheaper – than the cure.  

Karen’s Corner is not meant to replace your veterinarian when needed.

Make sure your veterinarian’s phone number, as well as the numbers of emergency clinics are posted in a place where you can find them quickly.  If you have not done this yet, please find the numbers of emergency clinics in Karen’s Corner of April 2012, archived.

Please make sure your disaster/fire evacuation plan includes your four legged family members. 

Pyometra –  A life-threatening condition in intact female dogs.   

            In the past, pyometra was believed to be a severe bacterial infection of the uterus.  Now it is known that this common condition is caused by a hormonal abnormality.  Although it usually does not occur until middle age, it can occur in younger females as well.

            The most common symptoms of pyometra are depression, loss of appetite, a vaginal discharge which is often profuse, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination.  The vaginal discharge is usually yellow-gray or brown and has a fetid odor.  An observant owner may also notice a distended abdomen and enlarged vulva.  The rectal temperature is normal or slightly elevated, although in a severely toxic animal the temperature may be subnormal. 

            Survival depends on quick recognition of the above symptoms and immediate medical attention.

            The large amounts of the hormone progesterone released during diestrus (between heats) or a heightened sensitivity of the uterus to this hormone represent the cause of pyometra.  Numerous secretory cells are released into the interior of the uterus.  Bacteria that have found their way into the uterus are believed to play a role as well.  In addition, inflammatory cells invading the uterus cause inflammation. The excess fluid and thickening of the walls of the uterus lead to the tremendous enlargement of the organ.

            Initially, fluid flows out through the vagina, but eventually the cervix closes, trapping all of the fluid and pus within the uterus.  Continued swelling can cause a rupture of the uterus, spilling the fluid into the abdominal cavity.  This, in turn, leads to peritonitis, an inflammatory condition of the inner lining of the abdominal cavity.  Peritonitis will quickly lead to death of the animal. If rupture of the uterus does not occur, wastes and excess fluid are carried by the bloodstream into the kidneys, and this will quickly lead to uremic poisoning and death due to kidney failure. 

            After a physical examination, tests include microscopic examination of vaginal swabs, complete blood count, liver enzymes, kidney function, abdominal X-rays, ultrasound, and urinalysis. 

            The first choice of treatment to save the life of the dog is immediate removal of the uterus, in other words, spaying.  If a breeder wants to save a valuable brood bitch for a future litter, medical therapy with a prostaglandin could be attempted.  However, this is extremely risky since about 48 hours will pass before improvement is manifested, and the dog may expire before that time.  The success rate of this treatment is only 50-60 percent, and the relapse rate is high.  Antibiotic therapy as a single treatment has proven unsuccessful.  Antibiotics can only be useful as an adjunct.

            Pyometra is best prevented by spaying before the age of 6 months.  If the dog had a litter of puppies, she should be spayed as soon as possible after the puppies are weaned. Other benefits of spaying are the prevention of uterine and ovarian tumors, and if done before the dog’s first heat, it significantly reduces the chances of mammary cancer.  In all, spaying promises a longer, healthier life.  Another significant benefit of spaying, of course, is the prevention of more puppies when there are already too many born into an overpopulated world, making it necessary to destroy millions of innocent lives every year.

Food-safety reminder.  There have been many adverse reaction reports caused by pet food or treats made in China during recent months and years.  Thousands of beloved pets have become ill, or died.  Many human hearts have been broken.  I mentioned this before and will say it again.  Check where the food you purchase for your pets was manufactured.  If the place of manufacture is not on the bag, call the manufacturer.  If the manufacturer’s representative won’t tell you, switch to a different product.  I do not give anything made in China to my pets.

Your kitty’s love-gift.  If your cat walks in, proudly carrying a dead mouse in his mouth, then drops it at your feet in the living room, please don’t be offended.  It’s meant as a gift, and maybe he thinks of it as his contribution to the household, paying “room and board.”  Of course you need to dispose of the mouse immediately for reasons of sanitation, but don’t scold the cat.  He wanted to do something nice for you and his feelings will be hurt if you are not pleased.

Pets as Christmas gifts – If you are giving a pet as a gift, I hope the animal is wanted and suits the lifestyle of the recipient.  Please take the pet the day after Christmas, because during the hustle and bustle of the holiday, people may be too busy and excited about other things.  The poor creature might be neglected and feel abandoned on the first day in his or her new home.  And please check now and then to see how things are going.  Stress the necessity for timely vet checks and obedience training, and offer help if needed.  Remember, the gift you give is a living, breathing, sentient creature, not a manmade object.

Keep your pets warm this winter.  Every year outside dogs and cats are found frozen to death, a totally avoidable tragedy.  Short-haired dogs need to be inside during cold weather.  Long-haired breeds do better, but they too prefer to be in a warm place.  If you can not bring outside pets in, make sure they have a warm house, preferably insulated, facing away from the wind, with ample bedding.  I prefer straw for my huskies. Hay is softer and therefore more “edible,” an intestinal blockage waiting to happen.  Cats like it warm too, and if a cat is not used to living outdoors, she will likely not survive winter outside.  Do what you can to provide water for all outside pets and keep it from freezing.  And please have a heart for homeless pets.  Help a stray if you see one.  Someone neglected or abandoned them, and those of us with compassion in our hearts should try to undo the wrong done to them.

Dehydration kills. 

The danger of dehydration exists not only in summer.  If  outside animals do not have access to fluids, they will quickly dehydrate, especially in very cold weather.  Dehydration will accelerate freezing to death.  So here’s how you can do a hydration check in dogs and cats.  Pull up the scruff.  When you release it, the skin will spring back to a normal position right away.  This may be easier to see if you pull up the skin higher up, closer to the top of the head.  If the pet is dehydrated, the skin will retract more slowly.  The slower this occurs, the more pronounced the dehydration.  In most severe cases, the skin will stand up straight and won’t go down.  This is another life-threatening emergency.  In mild dehydration, getting the pet to drink sufficient water, perhaps flavored with a favorite flavor to get him to drink, will quickly correct the situation.  But if the dehydration is severe, parenteral fluids must be administered by your veterinarian or the pet will expire quickly. 

Pet-proofing your home for the holidays.  

Some of the following has been mentioned before, so I will stick to just a few highlights.  Honor your guests by keeping pets out of their way at first.  Your dog or cat may not like this, but it is necessary for everyone’s safety.  Then, when everyone is comfortable, you can introduce your pets, preferably not all of them at once if you have multiple pets..  Remember, not everyone loves your pets the way you do.  Try to prevent them from jumping on people, and PLEASE, don’t let your big bouncy dog trip grandma!  It could spoil your Christmas

Purses may contain medications or artificially sweetened gum – both potentially deadly to dogs and cats.  Make sure they are out of your pet’s reach.  And if you have overnight guests, ask them not to leave medications or other dangerous items on the nightstand or other place where little rascals can reach them.  Sometimes even a little dog or cat will amaze you with more strength and ingenuity than you thought they had.

Remember, just because you are “feasting,” your pets do not have to do the same.  Do not give them anything but their regular food, unless you want to clean up messes – not the pet’s fault if you give her the wrong thing to eat – or worse, make a trip to the emergency clinic.  The only people food that is OK to give your dog or cat is a small amount of lean meat, but no spices, fat or sugar. Unless your pet is on a special low-protein veterinary diet, a little extra protein is fine.  But don’t be impressed by eyes begging for more.  I know it’s hard.  I have to “endure” the begging eyes too!

May you and your pets have a wonderful Christmas and a happy, healthy, safe New Year.

Comments or questions are welcome.  E-mail me at animalfriendsbc.org