1380. Hypothermia & anaemia

Jun 15, 2014

A 14-year-old Maltese, not spayed came in yesterday Saturday with the following:

Recently, she had  "snoring" breath and howled when nobody was at home. Did not move when placed in a location as if immobile. Vomited twice on Friday. Drank and peed a lot.
The dog's gums were white and the rectal temperature was low at 36.8 C.  This was a dog seriously ill.

"Normal dog's temperature is from 38.5 to 39.5 C," I said to the mother and adult son. "This is not a good sign as the dog also had pale gums, meaning loss of blood or insufficient blood."

I palpated the bloated tense abdomen. There was a swelling in the lower 1/3 of the abdomen, as if the uterus was swollen with pus. I checked the nipples. The back ones discharged reddish black fluid when expressed. So, the dog could have false pregnancy and now had closed pyometra. Blood test was taken.

However the dog passed away despite I/V drips and medication. The tongue and gums had become snow white.

It is best to get female dogs spayed when they are young as old ones may suffer from closed or open pyometra (infection of the womb) and internal bleeding from toxaemia.