What happens when I don’t desex my female dog?
This gorgeous little fluff ball is Chukgoon. She is a 10 year old Japanese Spitz.
A few weeks ago her owners found a lump growing in her mammary area. Mammary tumours are common in undesexed female dogs from about 7 years old. They are just as dangerous as breast cancer in humans and are best removed when a small lump, to try to avoid a cancerous spread.
Chukgoon’s owners were considering removing the mammary tumour when she presented to Pittwater Animal Hospital. She had been drinking a lot of water, vomiting and was very unwell. Dr Jordan quickly suspected that Chukgoon had a large swollen mass in her abdomen. Her uterus was infected and filled with pus.
Xrays taken showed the fluid filled uterus in Chukgoon’s abdomen the mammary tumour also appears on the xray as a calcified mass.
A uterine infection is called a pyometra. This is a life-threatening problem which can quickly develop into peritonitis and septicaemia. A decision was made to do emergency surgery to save Chukgoon’s life. Dr Heidi performed the surgery after Chukgoon had been stabilised with intravenous fluids and intravenous antibiotics.
Surgery revealed a large pus filled uterus which was carefully ligated and removed. During the surgery the mammary tumour was also excised with a margin of normal tissue. 
Chukgoon responded really well to surgery and went home the next day. In hindsight she would have never had either of these conditions if she had been desexed as a young dog. 
