Not Spaying Female Pets Not Only Can Result in an Unplanned Pregnancy … It Also Can Threaten Their Lives!... Sadly, the epidemic of unspayed and unneutered animals in the U.S. is packing our shelters with puppies and kittens waiting for homes. But failure to spay your female animals can have even more devastating consequences. Your dog or cat could develop a fatal infection of the uterus called pyometra. At VET Fund, we have helped a number of pets with pyometra in the past year; therefore, we felt it was time to educate pet owners about this life-threatening disease and the importance of spaying your female pets NOW! What is pyometra? After your intact dog or cat has gone through multiple heat cycles (similar to the human “period”), her uterus becomes thickened and filled with cysts, which creates the ideal environment for bacteria to grow after each heat. This infection can be fatal if not promptly treated. What are the symptoms? You might notice a thick, white discharge coming from your dog’s or cat’s vagina or on the animal’s bedding, carpeting or furniture. However, sometimes this pus won’t be discharged and cause your pet’s abdomen to enlarge. Pets may also become feverish and lethargic, drink more water than usual, refuse to eat, vomit and/or have diarrhea. Is my pet at risk? Typically, older dogs and cats, who have not had a pregnancy in a number of years, are more likely to develop this disease. However, young to middle-aged, intact female animals are also at risk. According to most veterinarians, it is not a matter of if, but when an intact female will get a pyometra. How do you treat pyometra? If you notice symptoms of this disease, see your vet immediately. If pyometra is diagnosed, your vet will remove the dog’s or cat’s infected uterus. However, the surgery is much more complicated procedure if your pet is ill from the infection. That’s why it’s so important to proactively spay your female dogs and cats and prevent them from developing this life-threatening infection in the first place! (Female puppies and kittens can be fixed before they go into their first heat – at around six months old.)
Don’t delay … spay your dog or cat today!
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