Endometritis– inflammation of the uterine mucosa.
According to the course, endometritis in cats can be acute and chronic. According to the nature of inflammation, endometritis can be catarrhal, catarrhal-purulent, purulent, fibrinous.
Acute endometritis in cats that occurs in connection with childbirth is usually called postpartum.
Chronic endometritis in cats develops from acute inflammation uterine mucosa.
Inflammation of the uterine mucosa in a cat mainly develops as a result of the pathogenic effects of various microorganisms - staphylococci, streptococci, coli, Pseudomonas, Protea, Klebsiel, Mycoplasma (), Chlamydia () and other microorganisms.
Acute postpartum endometritis in cats occurs as a result of retained placenta (), difficult birth, uterine atony (), spread of the inflammatory process from the vagina () and cervix ().
Hormonal changes in older cats that have given birth many times, they cause chronic endometritis.
Inflammation of the uterus can result from frequent use hormonal drugs that suppress heat in cats.
Predisposing factors in the occurrence of endometritis in cats include a decrease in the general resistance of the body, unbalanced and inadequate feeding, and lack of exercise during pregnancy.
Pathogenesis. The pathogenesis of endometritis is similar to the pathogenesis of.
Signs of endometritis. Spicy postpartum endometritis in cats it begins 2-5 days after birth. The cat's body temperature increases by 0.5-1°C, the owners of the animal note a decrease or complete loss appetite, milk secretion decreases. A characteristic feature acute postpartum endometritis are mucous or mucous- purulent discharge inflammatory exudate from the genital fissure. Pet owners usually notice exudate from the genitals on the floor in the place where the cat was lying. The cat often assumes a posture to urinate, arching its back and moaning. During examination in a veterinary clinic, a veterinary specialist during palpation notes an enlargement of the uterus, the cervix is open, from it separation in progress inflamed exudate. The uterus is painful on palpation.
In the case when a cat’s cervix closes, the inflammatory exudate formed in the uterus does not have the opportunity to be evacuated from it, and it accumulates. As a result, the cat’s body temperature rises sharply, the cat becomes apathetic, the appetite completely disappears, thirst is noted, and the abdominal cavity increases. Toxins formed in the uterus are absorbed into the blood, causing polyuria and polydipsia, and the kidneys are affected. Because of severe pain in the abdominal area, the cat does not allow touching the abdominal area, often arches its back and assumes a posture for urination. When the cervical canal closes, the cat develops pyometra ().
Diagnosis. If endometritis occurs, owners urgently should contact veterinary clinic. The veterinarian will conduct a clinical examination of your pet and ask whether the cat has been hormonal drugs, will be held general analysis blood, biochemical research, urine analysis. At the same time, a blood test for sex hormones will be performed. During clinical trial inflammatory exudate from the uterus will be collected for bacteriological research and establishing the type of pathological microflora that caused endometritis, as well as titrating the microflora for sensitivity to antibiotics.
In large veterinary clinics it can be carried out radiographic examination abdominal cavity. It will show a shadowed and enlarged uterus with a level of dark fluid.
IN mandatory be carried out ultrasound examination, we establish the presence of fluid in the uterine cavity, as well as certain changes in the walls of the uterus itself.
Forecast. With proper and timely treatment of a sick cat, especially in the first days of the disease, acute endometritis ends in recovery. In the future, the cat is able to inseminate fruitfully and bear healthy offspring.
Complications. If untimely and unqualified treatment occurs, inflammation from the uterine cavity can develop into fallopian tubes causing, to affect the muscular layer of the uterus (myometritis), the outer layer of the uterus (parametritis). If left untreated, the cat may develop sepsis and eventually die.
Treatment. Treatment of endometritis in a cat is very important to begin as quickly as possible, since if delayed, the inflammatory process can spread to other layers of the uterus - muscular and serous, which poses a serious threat to the life of the cat.
Treatment of acute postpartum endometritis should be carried out comprehensively through a rational combination of general and local therapy, taking into account etiological factors, the nature and stage of the process, as well as general condition cat's body.
When treating endometritis in a cat, veterinary specialists proceed from whether the owners want to continue to use their cat to produce offspring and its breeding value. Great influence The treatment of a cat is influenced by its age, the presence of certain diseases of the heart, liver, and kidneys.
Treatment of endometritis should be directed to:
In order to increase the tone of the uterus, remove exudate and improve blood supply to the uterus, oxytocin 5 IU 2 times a day, pituitrin, proserin, 1% solution of sinestrol, hyfotocin, 0.02% solution of ergometrine, etc. are used.
Antimicrobial therapy is carried out. Large doses of antibiotics are prescribed, including modern cephalosporins. Sumamed intramuscularly 0.3 mg/kg 1 time per day. Antiprotozoal and antimicrobial drug Metronidazole 50 mg 2 times a day. If fungi are isolated in the uterine exudate, fluconazole 12 mg once a day.
To relieve symptoms of intoxication, a sick cat is injected intravenously with Ringer's solutions, 5% glucose or rheopolyglucin.
To increase the body's defenses, immunomodulators are prescribed - Ribotan, Gamavit, Combistan, Ovariovit subcutaneously, intramuscularly once a day or every other day for 10-14 days.
In advanced cases, treatment of endometritis, especially with pyometra, consists of surgical removal of the uterus, tubes and ovaries.
Prevention. Prevention of endometritis in cats should be based on preventing the causes leading to endometritis in cats. Organize good nutrition cats, especially during pregnancy. Do not use drugs to regulate heat in your cat. If you do not keep a cat for breeding purposes, then it is better to sterilize it (). Breed the cat in a timely manner. Timely vaccinate cats against infectious diseases that affect genital area in an animal.
Endometritis – serious illness, which affects cats of reproductive age, is often characterized severe course and leads to the development of complications. This is one of the most common pathologies reproductive system, and it is important for animal owners to identify it in a timely manner and take appropriate measures. How does endometritis manifest in a cat, and what should be done when symptoms appear?
Endometritis in a cat - dangerous disease
The disease is characterized by the development of an inflammatory process in the uterus due to the entry of pathogenic microorganisms into the organ cavity. These can be either pathogenic bacteria that have entered the body from the outside (chlamydia, Klebsiella), or opportunistic microorganisms that inhabit the microflora of the lower genital tract and can actively multiply under the influence of certain factors.
The immunity of healthy animals is able to cope with foreign agents, but under favorable conditions (weakening of the body, a high amount of progesterone in the blood, which interferes with normal operation lymphocytes, etc.) bacteria begin to multiply, causing inflammation.
Most often, endometritis is diagnosed in postpartum period, but under the influence of a number of reasons it can occur at any time, even in nulliparous individuals. There are many factors that can provoke pathology, but their absence does not protect the reproductive system 100%, since in some cases the exact cause of its development cannot be established.
The greatest predisposition to the development of endometritis is observed in young females aged 3-4 years, as well as in older individuals who have reached 7-8 years of age, regardless of age. Veterinarians have noticed a connection between the incidence and a genetic factor - if the pathology was diagnosed in the mother, there is a high probability of its occurrence in female kittens.
Advice! To prevent postpartum endometritis in a cat, it is necessary to monitor the number of placenta left the uterus - it should be equal to the number of kittens born.
In addition, for several hours (no more than a day), bloody fluid is released from the female’s vagina - these are the so-called lochia, which indicate normal contractile function uterus.
Depending on clinical course endometritis, there are several forms of the disease. Acute pathology most often develops 5-6 days after a difficult birth, differs severe symptoms, chronic develops in any period, the signs may be vague or absent altogether. In addition, types of the disease may have certain features of the inflammatory process, based on which endometritis is divided into catarrhal, purulent, fibrinous, necrotic and gangrenous.
Table 1. Forms of endometritis in cats.
| Form of the disease | Peculiarities |
|---|---|
| Catarrhal | The pathological process affects the upper layer of the endometrium, the main symptom is the release of a transparent mucous substance |
| Purulent | Affects the deep layers of the endometrium, characterized by fever, intoxication of the body and the appearance of purulent exudate with an unpleasant odor |
| Fibrinous | A yellowish-brown liquid is released from the genital tract of a sick animal, which contains fibrin, a special protein that is part of the blood plasma. |
| Necrotizing metritis | develops after childbirth, affects the deep layers of uterine tissue, on which dead (necrotic) areas form |
| Gangrenous metritis | Extremely severe postpartum complication, as a result of which the uterine tissue disintegrates |
The most dangerous forms pathologies are considered necrotic and gangrenous metritis - with their development, even timely medical care cannot always save the animal, and the mortality rate reaches 70-80%.
Attention! If a cat gives birth to underdeveloped or dead kittens, she should be shown to a doctor even in the absence of alarming symptoms– perhaps the cause of the pathologies in newborns was an intrauterine infection, which could soon develop into severe endometritis in the female.
The incubation period of the disease can be 2-7 days, after which the animal experiences the following symptoms:
At chronic form Endometritis symptoms are similar, but may be less pronounced. The absence of discharge does not indicate a mild course of the disease - it is a sign of the accumulation of exudate in the uterine cavity, which can lead to infection of the kidneys, severe intoxication and the development of sepsis.
Advice! If you suspect endometritis and there is no heavy discharge, you should carefully examine the animal’s genital opening and the hair around it - since a small amount of exudate is still released, the hair will always be wet.
An inflammatory process in the uterus can provoke serious complications, primarily the development of peritonitis and pyometra – purulent lesion deep layers of uterine tissue, which can lead to fatal outcome. In the absence medical care the disease affects not only the reproductive system, but also the kidneys, which leads to disruption of vital functions.
One more thing, no less dangerous complication endometritis – sepsis, which develops as a result of the spread of infection through the bloodstream to all organs. Chronic course The disease can cause infertility in a cat, which is especially important for owners of purebred animals that have breeding value.
The diagnosis of suspected endometritis is made on the basis of an external examination, anamnesis, clinical and instrumental methods diagnostics These include a general and biochemical blood test, a study on the concentration of hormones in the blood and collection of exudate to determine the causative agent of the disease and its sensitivity to antibacterial therapy. To the necessary instrumental diagnostics refers to ultrasound, which allows you to determine changes in the walls of the uterus and the presence of fluid in its cavity. Sometimes, to clarify the diagnosis, radiography is performed - with endometritis, the image will show a shadowed organ with a certain level of exudate.
Important! It is strictly prohibited to take any measures on your own if you suspect endometritis - only a doctor can determine and prescribe treatment. Waiting medical care the owner can give the cat a little water or chamomile infusion to reduce intoxication.
If endometritis develops, it is important to take the animal to a veterinary clinic as soon as possible - for early stages the disease is successfully treated conservative methods. Therapeutic procedures are aimed at achieving the following goals:
When prescribing therapy, it is important to take into account the level of progesterone in the animal’s blood - it must be sufficient to ensure tight closure of the cervix, as well as the reaction of its body to the drugs. The treatment regimen for endometritis in cats includes the use of a number of drugs that can achieve good results.
Table 2. Treatment regimen for endometritis.
| Category of medicines | Drugs | Purpose of application |
|---|---|---|
|
| Destroy pathogenic microflora, stop the inflammatory process |
|
| Increase the tone of the uterine walls and improve blood circulation in the tissues |
Antifungal agents |
| Used when a fungal infection is attached |
Detoxification and plasma replacement agents |
Ringer's solution or five percent glucose, Reopoliglucin | Elimination of intoxication and its consequences, prevention of dehydration, restoration of normal metabolic processes |
|
| Improving performance immune system, increasing the body's resistance |
The dosage, duration of treatment and method of administration of the drugs are prescribed by the doctor - in the first few days of therapy, the drugs are usually administered intramuscularly or intrauterinely to achieve maximum effect.
If the disease is diagnosed on late stages, the animal undergoes surgery to remove the uterus and ovaries. IN postoperative period a cat needs to take vitamins and immunomodulators to prevent complications, as well as dietary food containing light, but nutritious and healthy foods.
Endometritis in cats can be treated with antibiotics
For reference! Even if conservative therapy gave the necessary results, doctors recommend sterilizing animals that are not of breeding value, since endometritis tends to recur.
The prognosis depends on the form and stage of the disease, as well as the general condition of the pet’s body. With timely and proper therapy Endometritis can be completely cured, preserving the cat’s ability to bear children, but a certain risk of relapse still remains. If left untreated, the animal dies, and the necrotic and gangrenous form of the disease in 70% of cases leads to death, even when the animal receives medical care.
U healthy cats With good immunity Those who are kept in normal conditions and eat properly are much less likely to develop endometritis. In addition, to prevent the development of the disease, the owner must adhere to the following rules:
Endometritis in cats is a dangerous disease that can cause serious complications and even death of the animal, but with timely treatment and compliance preventive measures you can keep him healthy and reproductive function.
Endometritis occurs most often in cats after giving birth in acute form. There is also chronic endometritis.
Acute endometritis
in a cat it begins for reasons such as:
- delay of placenta,
- penetration into the uterus and birth canal cats of specific substances that precipitate and destroy mucopolysaccharides, ensuring the body’s interaction with infections and increasing resistance to infection
- infection
- hypotension, atony of the cat’s uterus
- retention of lochia after childbirth
- poor nutrition (read a series of articles on cat nutrition here)
- reduced immunity (you can learn about the drugs needed to increase immunity from this article)
Chronic endometritis
begins when the cat's uterus becomes infected or due to hormonal disorders. Chronic endometritis manifests itself 1-1.5 months after the onset of infection.
How can you ease the course of endometritis in a cat and make sure that your pet recovers quickly?
The best way to help your cat is to contact a veterinarian. However, it is important to recognize signs of endometritis in a cat at an early stage.
Symmetrical hair loss
- decreased or lack of appetite
- slight fever
- increase in temperature
- decreased milk production
- discharge from the genitals mixed with blood. With endometritis in cats, the discharge is strong when the cat is lying down. With endometritis, the pussy becomes in a position as if for urination, meows heavily, moans, and arches its back.
It is very important to start treating endometritis in a cat as early as possible, otherwise the inflammation will spread to the serosa and muscular layer of the uterus, posing a threat to the life and health of the cat. Endometritis in cats is acute without good treatment turns into a purulent-catarrhal chronic form.
With proper treatment, endometritis in cats can be cured within 2 weeks.
Endometritis is treated with a course of intramuscular antibiotics. To increase the tone of the uterus and remove exudate from it, pituitrin, injections of oxytocin or papaverine, and a 1% solution of sinestrol are prescribed intramuscularly. The uterus is massaged through the peritoneum. They give immunomodulators and vitamins.
The treatment regimen for endometritis is located.
Watch your pet and do not hesitate, if you notice that the cat is sick - urgently take it to the veterinary clinic, and the disease will be defeated!
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Endometritis is an inflammatory process that occurs in the uterus. This disease most often occurs during the postpartum period.
As a rule, the disease is accompanied by very serious condition animal with possible complications. For proper treatment endometritis in a cat, you need to understand the causes and symptoms of this disease.
Causes of occurrence include:
Predisposing factors to the development of the disease are mineral starvation (lack of one or more natural bioelements in the body), hypovitaminosis (lack of vitamins), physical inactivity (low muscle load).
It is worth remembering that a cat with endometritis must be isolated from healthy ones.
Endometritis may appear after the cat gives birth. In this case, the disease occurs in complex and long labor, when the walls of the vagina and uterus are damaged during childbirth, during stillbirth and death of the fetus in the womb.
Cats that have never lambed and are over six years old are also susceptible to this disease. Treatment of endometritis is carried out with the drug Argumistin.
In the case of cats, endometritis is observed more in old than young. The likelihood of the disease occurring is not affected by whether the cat has given birth or not.
Acute endometritis is caused by fetal retention, infection, improper diet of the cat, improper maintenance and fatigue of the pet. With strong inflammatory process the animal's temperature rises by about one degree.
A chronic disease in cats manifests itself after two to three weeks, while an acute disease manifests itself within five days. Timely treatment acute endometritis can save reproductive function, but if you do not pay attention, the disease will quickly progress and ultimately lead to the death of the animal.
Do not forget about prevention after a course of treatment. It consists of proper maintenance and feeding, frequent walks and care.
It is necessary to understand that endometritis is deadly and it is necessary, especially after the birth of the animal, to look for signs of the disease in order to prevent it as early as possible and save the cat.
You can diagnose the disease yourself. It is enough to pay attention to the behavior of the pet. 
Symptoms include:
If you find such symptoms in your pet, you must immediately take him to the veterinarian, where he will additional tests and ultrasound examination of the uterus can confirm or refute the assumption.
There are several types of endometritis:
If you don't provide necessary treatment in time, the infection can infect the fallopian tubes or deeper layers of the uterus, in the future this disease there is a likelihood of developing infertility and sepsis, and a high load on the kidneys leads to renal failure.
Having installed accurate diagnosis, depending on the stage of development of the disease, the veterinarian prescribes treatment. In the normal course of the disease, powerful antimicrobials. One of these is Argumistin. This is one of the most innovative veterinary drugs, which has antiseptic, wound healing and immunostimulating properties.
Endometritis develops under the influence of the following factors:
Unsanitary conditions, adynamia during the dry period, and an unbalanced diet contribute to the occurrence of the disease.
According to the intensity of the increase in symptoms, acute or chronic inflammation mucous membrane of the uterus. According to the type of inflammation - catarrhal, fibrinous or purulent.
Occurs as a result of abnormal birth. It appears 2–6 days after lambing with clear symptoms. The disease requires immediate treatment. If everything is done correctly, the animal recovers and is able to continue reproductive cycle.
It is characterized by uncharacteristic symptoms, a sluggish course, and periods of manifestations. Is main reason infertility of cats.
The manifest course of inflammation of the uterine mucosa is characterized by the following symptoms:
When making a final diagnosis, the anamnesis data is taken into account, clinical symptoms, the results of a vaginal smear examination, as well as biochemical tests urine, blood, estrogen content. Pathological material is sent for biological examination with mandatory testing of pathogens for sensitivity to antimicrobial agents.
Instrumental studies are informative. Ultrasound reveals hypertrophy of the mucous layer of the uterus, accumulation of exudate in its cavity. At x-ray examination the inflamed organ appears as an enlarged, shadowed area with dark, fluid contents. If there is no vaginal discharge, pyometra is diagnosed - purulent inflammation. In this case, surgical intervention is indicated.
Inflammation of the uterus is eliminated in two ways:
Practice in following situations:
Complex therapy pursues the following goals:
Exudate accumulating inside the uterine cavity is an ideal substrate for the reproduction of secondary microflora. Metabolites of bacteria, fungi, and protozoa are toxins. To remove them use the following hormonal agents:
In a clinical setting, uterine lavage is practiced. antiseptic solutions, as well as massage through abdominal wall.
Antimicrobial therapy begin without waiting for the results of bacterial testing and titration for sensitivity to antibiotics. Universal is injected intramuscularly antimicrobial agent, mainly from cephalosporins or macrolides.
The decision to conduct detoxification therapy is made by a veterinarian. Solutions of Polyglucin, Glucose 5%, and Ringer's are administered intravenously.
To stimulate the tone of the uterus, hormonal drugs are used - Oxytocin and Sinestrol, agents that promote increased contractions smooth muscle– Ergometrine or Proserine. Medicines help cleanse the organ cavity of exudate and restore its functions.
During treatment, as well as after its completion, they stimulate the defense system course application immunomodulators - Gamavit, Ribotan, Ovariovit and others, prescribed by a veterinarian. For rehabilitation purposes, the cat’s diet is enriched with vitamins and essential amino acids. The best option is to use doctor-recommended medicinal food.
Surgical removal The uterus with ovaries and appendages is indicated in the following situations:
A cat that has had endometritis becomes predisposed to the recurrence of the disease. Therefore, veterinarians recommend castrating a cat if it is not intended to be used for breeding.
The animal must be provided with a balanced diet - premium ready-made food or natural food, prepared by a specialist with experience in formulating diets. Cats unsuitable for breeding work are recommended to be sterilized by removing the reproductive organs. Thus, the owner relieves the pet from the torment to which the reproductive instinct dooms it. The use of drugs that stop estrus, interrupting unwanted tightness, leads to hormonal imbalances, and, consequently, to endometritis or cancerous tumors.
If a breeding animal has an imaginary pregnancy, it is monitored. If the anomaly recurs, the cat is culled and sterilized. Older animals are predisposed to diseases of the reproductive organs due to hormonal imbalances. Therefore, veterinarians recommend sterilizing cats upon reaching the age of seven.
Endometritis occurs in pets mainly due to the fault of the owner. An unbalanced diet, adynamia, and the use of contraceptives to disrupt estrus and terminate pregnancy destroy a cat’s health. The felinologist is responsible for the one he has tamed.
