Uterine infections affect unspayed female cats. These infections can rapidly progress, leading to severe illness and potentially life-threatening complications. Recognizing their signs is important for prompt veterinary intervention. This condition can cause significant discomfort and health deterioration if left untreated.
Understanding Uterine Infections
Two primary types of uterine infections affect cats: pyometra and metritis. Pyometra is a bacterial infection of the uterus, characterized by the accumulation of pus within the uterine cavity. This condition develops in unspayed female cats following a heat cycle. Hormonal changes, particularly elevated progesterone, cause the uterine lining to thicken, creating an environment for bacterial growth. Bacteria, such as E. coli, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus species, can enter the uterus through a relaxed cervix during estrus.
Pyometra can manifest as either “open” or “closed” cervix. In open pyometra, the cervix remains open, allowing pus and discharge to drain from the vulva. In closed pyometra, the cervix is sealed, trapping pus inside the uterus. This leads to rapid abdominal distension and a more severe illness due to the absorption of bacterial toxins into the bloodstream.
Metritis is another uterine infection, occurring within a week after a cat gives birth. This inflammation of the uterine lining is caused by bacterial infection. Factors like difficult or prolonged labor, or the retention of fetal membranes or a fetus, can predispose a cat to developing metritis. While both pyometra and metritis involve bacterial infection of the uterus, metritis is distinct in its association with the postpartum period.
Signs Your Cat May Have a Uterine Infection
Recognizing the signs of a uterine infection is important for timely veterinary care. Cats with a uterine infection may show general signs of illness, including lethargy, decreased appetite, and increased thirst and urination. Vomiting and diarrhea can also occur, particularly as the infection progresses.
More specific signs related to the reproductive system include: Vaginal discharge, which may be pus-like, bloody, or dark green and foul-smelling, is a common indicator of an open pyometra or metritis. However, cats are often fastidious, frequently licking themselves, which might make this discharge less obvious. Abdominal distension or a swollen abdomen can indicate closed pyometra, where pus accumulates internally.
The severity of symptoms often varies depending on whether the cervix is open or closed. Cats with closed pyometra become severely ill rapidly because toxins are trapped and absorbed into the bloodstream. They may appear listless, depressed, and show signs of dehydration like dark red gums. Regardless of the specific signs, any unspayed female cat exhibiting these symptoms warrants immediate veterinary attention.
How Veterinarians Diagnose and Treat Uterine Infections
Veterinarians use several diagnostic methods to confirm a uterine infection. A physical examination is the first step, where the veterinarian assesses the cat’s health and may feel an enlarged uterus, especially in closed pyometra. Blood tests, including a complete blood count (CBC) and biochemistry profile, are performed. These tests can reveal an elevated white blood cell count, indicating an infection, and may show abnormalities in kidney function due to bacterial toxins.
Imaging techniques are also used for diagnosis. Abdominal X-rays can identify an enlarged uterus, particularly when the cervix is closed. However, if the cervix is open and there is minimal uterine enlargement, X-rays may not be conclusive. An abdominal ultrasound is a superior tool, as it can clearly identify an enlarged, fluid-filled uterus and differentiate it from a normal pregnancy.
The most effective treatment for pyometra is surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries, known as an ovariohysterectomy or spay. While this is the same surgery as a routine spay, it is more complex due to the infection and the cat’s compromised health. Cats often require stabilization with intravenous fluids and antibiotics before and after surgery to manage the infection and support recovery.
Medical management using prostaglandin hormones, which cause the uterus to contract and the cervix to open to expel pus, may be considered in specific cases, such as for breeding cats. However, this approach carries significant risks, including potential uterine rupture, side effects like vomiting and abdominal pain, and a high chance of recurrence. Surgical intervention remains the definitive treatment with the best prognosis.
Preventing Uterine Infections in Cats
Spaying, or ovariohysterectomy, is the most effective method for preventing uterine infections in female cats. This surgical procedure involves the removal of the ovaries and uterus, eliminating the possibility of conditions like pyometra and metritis. Without these reproductive organs, the hormonal fluctuations that contribute to uterine infections cannot occur.
Beyond preventing uterine infections, spaying offers several additional health benefits. It significantly reduces the risk of mammary (breast) tumors, especially if performed before the first heat cycle. Spaying also prevents unwanted pregnancies, contributing to feline population control and reducing the number of homeless cats. This routine procedure, often performed at a young age, provides long-term health advantages and reduces the potential for future medical emergencies.