“Pyometra is a life-threatening infection of the uterus”
Q Our vet has advised us to get our five-year-old dog, Lucy, spayed. We wanted to have her puppies but never got around to breeding her. The vet says she may end up with a serious condition called pyometra. Can you suggest any holistic options?
A.B. via email
APyometra is a life-threatening infection of the uterus that typically affects older, intact (unspayed) female dogs. It can occur in cats too, although it’s much more common in dogs.
The name literally means pus in the uterus (womb). It’s not unusual for dogs to get a bacterial infection in the uterus from time to time, but if there is a buildup of the uterine lining without a pregnancy, the infection can persist and become pyometra.
The use of hormones like estrogens to control when a
