Complete resolution of associative immune‐mediated polyarthritis following ovariohysterectomy in a dog with presumed pyometra

Abstract A 6‐year‐9‐month‐old, female, entire golden retriever was referred with an 11‐day history of generalised weakness with no response to analgesia. The clinical examination revealed appendicular joint pain with effusion and mucopurulent vaginal discharge. Investigations included blood analysis, which documented non‐specific inflammatory changes. Computed tomography revealed multiple joint effusions and a distended fluid fluid‐filled uterus compatible with pyometra. Arthrocentesis of multiple joints confirmed the presence of abundant non‐degenerate neutrophils with negative culture, characteristic of immune‐mediated polyarthritis. The dog underwent an ovariohysterectomy and recovered in the hospital for 48 hours. Treatment included antibiotics and analgesia, but no immunosuppressive medication was prescribed. The dog showed a rapid and complete resolution of the clinical signs, and no relapses were reported in the following 6 months. Although multiple triggers have been described in the veterinary literature, this is the first reported case of presumed pyometra associated with reactive immune‐mediated polyarthritis in a dog.