A VET in Newton Abbot is raising awareness of a life-threatening condition in dogs which can prove fatal after saving whippet Nico.

Dr Lennon Foo, founder of Amity Vet Care, says pyometra can be difficult to spot.

Three-year-old Nico was taken to Dr Foo by her owners when she ‘didn’t seem quite right’.

There were only subtle changes her behaviour but enough to worry her owners who trusted their instincts and took her to be checked over.

Nico was suffering from pyometra, a serious and potentially life-threatening uterine infection that affects unspayed female dogs.

Her owners had noticed she wasn’t herself and quieter but was diagnosed early, treated quickly and has since made a full recovery.

Pyometra is a severe infection of the uterus that most commonly develops several weeks after a heat cycle. While it can progress quietly at first, the condition can rapidly become life-threatening without urgent treatment.

Warning signs can include: lethargy or reduced appetite, increased drinking or urination, vomiting or diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort or swelling.

Importantly, not every dog will show all of these signs. In some cases, the changes can be subtle which is why early veterinary assessment is so critical.

Diagnosis involves a thorough physical examination, blood testing, and imaging such as ultrasound.

Once identified, treatment typically requires emergency surgery to remove the infected uterus.

Because Nico’s condition was recognised early, her treatment was timely and successful.

Today, she is back to her bright, energetic self.

Dr Foo explained: ‘This case is shared for educational purposes, not judgment.

‘Pyometra can develop even in well-cared-for pets, and the early signs are not always obvious.

‘Acting quickly when something feels ‘off’ can make all the difference.’