Arabella’s loss in 2025 due to Closed Pyometra was a tragic and sudden event. Closed Pyometra is a severe uterine infection that develops rapidly and often without obvious early signs, making it difficult to detect in time. This condition can occur when a female dog’s uterus becomes infected and fills with pus, but the cervix remains closed, preventing drainage and causing a dangerous buildup.

In Arabella’s case, the decision to rest her for a year without breeding after her heat cycle contributed to the development of Closed Pyometra. When a female dog is not bred or spayed after heat, hormonal changes can cause the uterine lining to thicken and become susceptible to infection. This highlights the importance of monitoring unbred females closely during and after their heat cycles, as Pyometra can progress rapidly and become life-threatening without prompt veterinary intervention.

Arabella’s passing is a reminder of the risks associated with reproductive health in intact female dogs and the need for careful management and awareness of symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, abdominal swelling, or unusual discharge, even when these signs are subtle or absent.