Prevalence of anterior uveitis in dogs diagnosed with pyometra

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anterior uveitis in dogs hospitalised with a diagnosis of pyometra.

Dogs with a clinical diagnosis of pyometra admitted for surgery at the Hospital Veterinari Canis between November 2021 and February 2023 were prospectively included. A control group of hospitalised dogs without pyometra was also included. A daily ophthalmic examination was performed during hospitalisation. Diagnosis of anterior uveitis was made based on the presence of aqueous flare, low intraocular pressure with other associated ocular signs such as episcleral injection and miosis, as well as other inflammatory changes in the anterior chamber. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the association between pyometra and anterior uveitis development.

Fifty female dogs (99 eyes) with pyometra were included. Seventeen dogs with pyometra developed anterior uveitis (34%). The control group included 25 dogs (50 eyes) without pyometra, with one dog developing anterior uveitis (4%). Bilateral uveitis was diagnosed in 13 of the 17 dogs (76.5%), while 4 of the 17 (23.5%) developed unilateral uveitis. Signs of anterior ocular inflammation were mild in 13 of the 17 dogs (76.5%), presenting a low grade of aqueous flare or low intraocular pressure associated with different grades of episcleral injection and miosis. The presence of severe signs of ocular inflammation was detected in 4 of the 17 dogs (23.5%).

Thirty-four percent of dogs with pyometra developed anterior uveitis. An ophthalmic examination during the hospitalisation is recommended to avoid vision-threatening complications.