884 Veterinary Obstetrics 



d. Acute Metritis in the Smaller Animals. 



In the smaller animals the causes and symptoms of acute 

 metritis are in the main parallel to those observed in the cow 

 and mare, varying of course in their expression, according to 

 species. Most small animals, when suffering from acute metri- 

 tis, tend to remain in the recumbent position. There is extreme 

 prostration, with fever, tenderness of the abdomen and a puru- 

 lent discharge from the vulva. The patient shows a disin- 

 clination to move, and usually gives an outcry of pain when 

 pressure is applied to the abdomen. 



Since in the smaller domestic animals the uterus is not so 

 readily cleansed by flushing, considerable care is necessary in order 

 to bring about disinfection, and even then the operation will not 

 succeed so well as in the larger domestic animals. In the smaller 

 animals, like the cat and bitch, we may insert far into the uterine 

 horn, a rubber human catheter, and through this inject the fluid ; 

 or possibly a slightly bent metallic catheter might be used with 

 even greater advantage, because of the possibility of directing it 

 first into one and then into the other horn, and gently flushing 

 these out with antiseptic fluids. 



In these animals, if the uterus cannot be disinfected by irriga- 

 tion, it may be necessary to resort to hysterectomy, as described 

 on page 669. 



