Investigation of pyometra in dogs in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the status of pyometra in dogs and effects of treatment, and to isolate bacteria from the inflammatory fluid of pyometra in dogs. The study was carried out from September 2022 to February 2023 at the Animal Health Laboratory and Treatment Division, Sub-Department of Animal Health and Husbandry of Ho Chi Minh City. Out of total 1,715 bitches, there were 81 cases of pyometra (4.43%). The results showed that dogs aged 5 - 7 years (35.80%) had the highest rate of pyometra, followed by dogs aged 2 - 4 years (20.99%), and the lowest rate with dogs < 2 years old (3.70%). Local breeds had a lower pyometra rate (19.75%) compared to foreign breeds (80.25%) (P < 0.05). Dogs kept in cages accounted for 58.02% of the pyometra rate, which was higher than the rate of free-roaming dogs at 41.98% (P < 0.05). Non-reproductive dogs had the highest rate of this disease (64.20%), followed by primiparous dogs (25.93%) and the lowest rate was recorded in dogs with parity 5 (1.23%) (P < 0.05). Common clinical symptoms included moodiness/proneness, vaginal discharge, abdominal distension/pain to touch, excessive drinking/thirst, loss of appetite, dehydration, fever, weight loss, polyuria and vomiting, which were important for the diagnosis of pyometra. Streptococcus was a bacterial group found in uterine fluid samples of pyometra by isolation and culture method. The treatment method chosen by the owners for pyometra in dogs in Ho Chi Minh City was surgical intervention and the effect of successful treatment was very high (90.12%).