Pyometra: Is there any option to surgery?

Yes, sometimes, and in short term. 

A pyometra is a "womb infection", where the uterus is full with purulent fluids that can be as much as several kilos. As it is a bacteria infection, we may think that a course of antibiotics will solve the problem. Then, How come no vet will send any pet home with just some antibiotics and, perhaps, some pain relief? Why?

VAGINAL CYTOLOGY SMEAR: coccacea 

bacteria (red arrow), neutrophils (yellow star)

and parabasal cells (green diamond), from a 

7 y.o. dog, 2 weeks after her season.

     On the one hand, we are dealing with quite a lot amount of pus within the abdomen. In best scenario some pus will drain through the vulva, in what it is called an "open pyometra". Most complex cases are "close pyometras", in which the cervix remains closed, the pus stay in the uterus, and its diagnose may be a challenge... (read more)

     In theory, by "inducing an abortion", these purulent fluid should be "aborted". Injections need to be repeated in 24h, side effects are common, cannot guarantee a complete success, and it may be a real option in open pyometras when cost is an issue. Needless to say that the pet will also need a long course of antibiotics.

     It is also strongly adviced to spay her before her next season, as pyometras occur normally few weeks after a season, being highly likely to reappear in pets who had already develop one in the past.

     For those owners concerned for their pet's safety, other techniques like laparoscopic ovaariectomy or "keyhole spay" have been recently introduced in the UK. However, both its availability and cost are an issue. Although safer, it is not a surgical treatment for a pyometra. Dogs who had been spayed through this methode will not suffer any pyometra but there is a very low risk of still developing uterine cancer.