Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hind leg lameness and walking issues in bitches with pyometra
By Klainbart, S et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2014·Hebrew University Veterinary Teaching Hospital·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Hindlimb lameness and gait abnormalities in bitches with pyometra.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of female dogs diagnosed with pyometra (a serious infection of the uterus) showed signs of limping and abnormal walking patterns. Nearly half of these dogs experienced these gait issues, which were linked to other symptoms like loss of appetite and vomiting, as well as elevated levels of certain blood markers. After undergoing surgery to remove the infected uterus, most of the dogs saw their limping improve significantly. This suggests that if your female dog is limping and has unclear reproductive health issues, it might be worth discussing pyometra with your vet.
People also search for: dog limping pyometra · female dog vomiting and limping · pyometra treatment for dogs
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of gait abnormalities and lameness (GAL) in bitches with pyometra, and their association with clinical and laboratory findings. The study included 79 bitches diagnosed with pyometra and 35 negative control intact bitches presented with other soft tissue surgical disorders. Dogs with a history of chronic lameness due to orthopaedic or neurological origin were excluded. A history of GAL was more frequent in the pyometra group (47 per cent) compared with the control group (20 per cent) (P=0.007). In the pyometra group, bitches presenting GAL had (P<0.04) higher frequencies of closed-cervix pyometra, anorexia and vomiting, as well as higher serum creatinine concentration and muscle enzymes activity, compared with those in without GAL. GAL signs resolved postovariohysterectomy in all but one bitch. The results suggest that GAL signs occur frequently in bitches with pyometra, especially in closed-cervix disease. Therefore, pyometra should be considered among the differential diagnoses when GAL occurs, especially when the clinical signs are non-specific and the reproductive history is unclear.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24789856/