Pyometra in Cats: Medical Versus Surgical Treatment

Abstract

Pyometra is not a common disease in cats however in Egyptian veterinary clinics where owners do not usually go for elective neutering become a more common affection. It is an acute or chronic purulent endometritis, a sequel to progesterone stimulation. The traditional therapy for pyometra is ovariohysterectomy however medical treatment may be requested by owners or cat condition may not permit surgical treatment. The aim of the present study is to characterize the pyometra in cats and compare between ovariohysterectomy and medical treatment using PGF2α alone or PGF2α in combination with dopamine agonist. 45 cats were diagnosed with pyometra. Cats divided into 3 groups. Group 1 (n= 23): animals received PGF2α, Group 2 (n= 15): cats received PGF2α plus oral administration of Bromocriptine. Group 3 (n=7): went for ovariohysterectomy. Survival analysis of cats was performed in this study for 2 years after diagnosis. In G1 we censored 14 animals, eight of them returned with recurrent pyometra. The first recurrent case was recorded 3 months post-treatment. In G2 we censored 12 cats, four of them were returned with recurrent pyometra, the first recurrent case was met 8 months post-treatment. After 24 months, both G1 and G2 have no difference in the survival rate which reach for both treatment about 60% success in both groups. However, G3 survival rate was 100% success. Using dopamine agonist in medical treatment my delay the recurrences of pyometra for a short term however ovariohysterectomy whenever possible may be the best choice for treatment of pyometra.