Renal injury in female dogs with pyometra

Pyometra is a common disease in intact female dogs and can cause glomerulopathy and tubular injury. This study aimed to evaluate kidney injury in female dogs with pyometra, as well as progression of the injury during treatment and the markers of this condition. This study analyzed 20 intact female dogs with both clinical and sonographic diagnosis of pyometra. Dogs were treated with intravenous fluids and antibiotics, and an ovariohysterectomy was performed. The following parameters were assessed at eight separate time points: blood pressure; serum creatinine, phosphorus, and urea levels; urinalysis and urinary biochemical parameters [urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase (uGGT) and urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR)]; glomerular filtration rate (GFR); and urine output. All dogs showed some degree of kidney injury at the time of pyometra diagnosis. This was transient in most animals, resolving with treatment of the pyometra. Measurement of uGGT and UPCR identified renal parenchymal injury, helping to determine the prognosis of the animals analyzed in the present study.