Cookie Dough is a 9 month old female Bengal cat who was brought to us due to abnormal vulvar discharge. Cookie had previously had an infection in her uterus when she was only 6 months old that we treated with antibiotics. During the current exam she had a normal temperature but her blood work showed a very high white blood cell count, particularly the neutrophils which are often associated with bacterial infections. When cats and dogs go through heat cycles, their cervix opens and closes. Sometimes, bacteria can be trapped during this process and then grow in the uterus causing a pyometra. We look at radiographs to diagnose this. A non pregnant uterus should not be visible with radiographs so when Cookie’s uterus showed up in a u-shaped pattern we knew her infection had returned. It was highly unlikely Cookie could ever have babies with this chronic problem so her owner moved forward with definitive treatment this time. We spayed her and sent her home on antibiotics to ensure she would heal well.
Pyometras occur frequently in cats and dogs, especially if they have never been bred. Cookie was a little on the young side as most patients that pyometras are 3-6 years old. Any time you adopt an animal, even if you plan to breed it, you should always plan to eventually spay her to prevent this infection.