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Overview:
Acute Metritis is
an inflammation of the lining of the uterus (endometrium)
post partum which causes systemic illness. It is most commonly caused
by a bacterial infection. It can be caused by retained placentas or kittens,
contamination of the birth canal during delivery (unsterile
fingers or instruments), prolonged labour or unsanitary conditions.
Left untreated, septicemia or toxemia can occur.
It is always
prudent to have your veterinarian perform a complete physical
check of your cat within a day or so of her giving birth to
check for possible problems.
What are the
symptoms of acute metritis?
Acute metritis
is a life threatening medical condition & veterinary attention
must be sought if you notice any of the following symptoms;
How is it
diagnosed?
Your veterinarian will perform a
physical examination of your cat & obtain a medical history. The
fact that she has very recently given birth would certainly
raise his suspicions of acute metritis.
He may wish to perform the
following tests;
-
Complete blood count - This will
show an elevated level of neutrophils.
-
X-Ray to check for retained
fetuses
-
Ultrasound may be performed to
check for retained placentas or fetuses
-
Cytologic examination of the
discharge & a bacterial culture so that the appropriate
antibiotic can be administered
How is it treated?
-
IV fluids to treat dehydration
-
If necessary, evacuate the
uterus
-
Antibiotics
-
It may be necessary to perform
an
ovariohysterectomy
Please note:
The medical
articles on this site have not been written by a
veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a
veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for
informative purposes only.
Always seek
immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or
behavioral) in your pets.
While great
care has been made in the creation of these articles, we
cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages.
If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical
advice.
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