Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :
A. Minor swelling or bruising is common after abdominal surgery. Monitor for excessive swelling (the sutures will look very tight), discharge, odor, bleeding, lethargy or loss of appetite. Keep an e-collar on her until the sutures are removed.
How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?
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Multiple complications associated with pyometra have been reported, including peritonitis and cervical stump abscessation, wound infection, wound swelling, fistulous tract development, sepsis, haemorrhage, uveitis, conjunctivitis, pyelonephritis, arrhythmia, urinary tract infection and myocarditis [3, 6–8].
Pyometra Surgery Complications – Rare, but serious
Severe pain, depression or weakness. Vomiting or Diarrhea. Labored breathing. Decreased appetite for more than 24 hours.
Monitor the incision daily for redness, swelling, discharge, or licking. Mild redness and swelling are part of the healing process and should be expected for the first few days after surgery. After the first two to three days, the swelling and redness should subside, and the incision should look better each day.
As mentioned above, early cases of pyometra can often be treated by removing the uterus. Pagan says, “A typical recovery time is 14 days and most dogs do very well after the fact.”
Spaying and neutering don`t cause weight gain, but they do create physiological changes that predispose a dog to packing on extra pounds. The risk for weight gain is highest during the first two years after the procedure, according to a study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Recovery After Spaying Surgery
Most pets will start to feel better in 24 – 48 hours, but full recovery takes between 10 to 14 days.
The prognosis for dogs with pyometra is generally good if treated early and most dogs make a full recovery. The mortality rate following surgery is 5-8% and increases dramatically if there is a uterine rupture. If pyometra is left untreated, it can be life-threatening due to uterine rupture and sepsis.
Pain Post Surgery
Animals can show signs of pain in many ways. Sometimes obvious signs include crying, restlessness, unwillingness to lie down, excessive panting, difficulty getting up, or aggression.
The treatment of choice, for both closed and open pyometra is immediate surgical ovariohysterectomy (complete removal of the ovaries, oviducts and uterus) or spaying. In timely managed situations, the success rate of the surgical management is 100%.
A: Many dogs will not have a bowel movement for the first 3-4 days after anesthesia and surgery. This is normal as long as there is no straining to attempt defecation.
Ovariohysterectomy for Pyometra Recovery in Dogs
Following an ovariohysterectomy for pyometra, the canine will show an almost full state of norm within 48 hours. At-home recovery should last at least a week, preventing the patient from engaging in physical activity.
There is a high risk of reoccurrence after medical management of pyometra. In some cases, this risk can be decreased by mating the dog in the next oestrus cycle following treatment. If pyometra reoccurs or if the patient does not initially respond to medical management, surgical removal of the uterus will be required.
While a dog`s fundamental personality will not change after a spay or neuter surgery, there are some changes you might observe, including: Behavioral changes are more pronounced among neutered males. They`re less likely to hump people, other dogs, and inanimate objects (though many persist).
Some drugs given during anesthesia and surgery can cause a temporary increase in urination. Your vet can tell you whether this is to be expected and for how long. Less commonly, you may notice an increase (or even decrease) in urination if your dog experienced a complication during the anesthetic procedure.
After surgery, it`s normal for dogs to experience a loss of appetite. They may go off their food due to pain, discomfort, or the side effects of anesthesia. In most cases, dogs will regain their appetite within a few days, but in other situations, it may take longer.
The incision site reopens. Signs of pain for longer than a week (shaking, hiding, drooling) Vomiting or diarrhea longer than 24 hours after the procedure (some immediately after can be normal as a result of anesthesia) Bleeding or pus from the incision site.
As with any surgery, complications may arise from the use of general anesthesia. If any of the uterus remains after surgery, the dog may be susceptible to stump pyometra, which can be life-threatening. Leaving the ovaries in the dog may contribute to the growth in mammary tumors.
We recommend they are closely observed during the first 12 hours after surgery. It is not necessary to stay up, or sleep next to your pet and you can leave your dog alone after surgery for short periods as long as they aren`t likely to lick their stitches.
New soft moist pink tissue should be forming in the area the wound was sustained in. If there is no new soft pink flesh forming where the wound was sustained, and you notice flesh around the wound is looking dark or feeling leathery, this is a bad sign.
How Long Does Pyometra Surgery Take? The procedure takes about 45 minutes to an hour to perform in most cases, including the needed time for preparation and anesthesia.
How is pyometra treated? The preferred treatment is to surgically remove the uterus and ovaries by performing an ovariohysterectomy (spay). Dogs diagnosed in the early stage of the disease are very good surgical candidates.
Anesthetic taken up by body fat will leach back into an animal`s blood for days or even weeks after anesthesia. This low residual amount of anesthetic may continue to affect an animal`s behavior for several days.
Typical Recovery Times for Pets After Surgery
Generally, soft tissue surgeries will be almost entirely healed by the two or three-week mark post-operation. It will likely take about six weeks until your pet is fully healed.
These side effects can range from increased aggression, depression, anxiety, or even clinginess; however, they only last for a short amount of time.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Q. My chihuahua had surgery on Thursday for pyometra. She is recovering, but she seems to have a bit of swelling in the tummy. Is this normal?
ANSWER : A. Minor swelling or bruising is common after abdominal surgery. Monitor for excessive swelling (the sutures will look very tight), discharge, odor, bleeding, lethargy or loss of appetite. Keep an e-collar on her until the sutures are removed.
Read Full Q/A … : Pyometra – After Surgery Swelling – Dogs – MedHelp
Q. What second surgery do you choose for a failed extra capsular repair or should a second surgery be done?
ANSWER : A. If you have a large breed dog, a TPLO usually works better. Also you have to figure out the reason for the failure. Was it too much activity too soon? Was the surgery not done properly? Was the rehab not followed? You have to allow at least 8 weeks of just post-op healing with rehab and then slowly get back to normal activity. A good 12-14 weeks before any type of normal activity is recommended and some dogs take longer than others. It’s hard or many dogs and even people to restrict their pets activity level post-op because they feel bad, but it really is necessary for proper and complete healing. It’s hard to say why your surgery option failed or if you should have a second one done without knowing your case in more depth. I would recommend a board certified surgeon perform the surgery if it is done again and you didn’t use one the first time.
Read Full Q/A … : Cataract Surgery Complications – AllAboutVision.com
Q. My dog has been diagnoised with acl torn ligement surgery is told what needs to be done what if I don’t have the surgery?
ANSWER : A. This is a common injury in older dogs and active dogs. Not doing surgery will leave the knee joint unstable and painful. It will eventually scar over and may “heal” to a certain degree but it will not be close to normal and your dog may have a permanent limp. With surgery, your dog can regain almost all of the normal function with less pain and less likelihood of another injury to that knee. That said, a high percentage of dogs who suffer an ACL injury will likely suffer the same injury in the other knee at some point in their lifetime.
Read Full Q/A … : How to Heal a Torn Dog ACL Without Surgery: 11 Steps
Q. I stepped on my cat and she yowled, but she’s purring &seems fine when I pick her up or feel her tummy. I’m still worried though.
ANSWER : A. If she seems fine and walking around normally, eating and drinking ok and doesn’t seem painful when picking her up then monitor her. If any of these changes or she seems very lethargic then have her checked over by your vet.
Read Full Q/A … : Causes of Cat Aggressive Behavior
Q. My dog is vomiting. She was sick 3 days prior-dry heaving. She seemed back to normal yesterday and today but when I got home tonight she hasn’t eaten
ANSWER : A. There are so many different causes for vomtiing, some less serious than others. How old is she and is she on any medications ? What do you normally feed her and could she have eaten something different that could have upset her stomach ? Is she a scavenger ? Has she been treated for worms and are her vaccinations up to date ? Is he normally healthy etc ? A very frequent scenario is alimentary indiscretion, and it normally resolves by feeding the dog a bland diet in smaller portions, after starving for a set number of days. If vomiting persists or appears after a few days, you want to make sure that there is nothing more serious going on like an obstruction or pancreatitis. I would recommend to have her checked over by your vet today.
Read Full Q/A … : Vetinfo
Q. My Maltese likes to eat grass for upset tummy symptom of allergy to grass! Whatcan ii give him besides peptol bismol?(makes him sick)
ANSWER : A. Do not give dogs human medicine without first consulting a vet.
For an upset tummy you could give him canned pumpkin (look for a dog specific one, and DO NOT buy pie filling). Canned pumpkin is very good for dogs tummies, and it typically helps with any tummy issue your dog is having. You also might want to consider GRADUALLY switching his food… if his tummy is regularly hurting, and his stools are not regular, then the food you are feeding your dog may not agree with him anymore, even if it had agreed with him for years beforehand. It’s important to find the right food for your dog. Even the best quality kibble may not be right for your dog.. it’s all about finding the perfect food.
Taste of the Wild, Orijen, Ziwipeak, Honest Kitchen, these are all great dog foods to consider.
Read Full Q/A … : Vet-Approved Home Remedies for Upset Stomachs in Dogs …
Q. My yorkie seems like he has a stomach ach and is stretching a lot. He doesn’t seem himself very sluggish and can’t get comfortable. Any idea?
ANSWER : A. He may have eaten something that didn’t agree with him or have a bit of a tummy upset. It is probably wise to phone you vet or emergency vet to discuss it a bit further to establish if it needs to be seen as an emergency or not.
Read Full Q/A … : The Thick of UNIT – Nehszriah – Archive of Our Own
Q. My puppy has a little bit of blood on the end of his diarrhea is that normal? He poops normally then the second time it comes out all water
ANSWER : A. It is never normal to see bloody stool. Intestinal parasites are a common cause of diarrhea and bloody stool, especially in puppies. Submit a stool sample to your vet to diagnose any parasites. Treat as indicated. Withhold food for 12-24 hours. Allow small amounts of water or unflavored PediaLyte. Resume feeding a bland diet (1:1 ratio of plain boiled boneless chicken and plain white rice). Feed in small, frequent amounts waiting at least one hour between feedings. Continue feeding until the stool is normal. Transition slowly to the regular diet. If the diarrhea doesn’t stop, see your veterinarian.
Read Full Q/A … : Puppy Diarrhea – Causes, Treatment & Prevention
