Comparison of treatment of pyometra with estradiol cypionate or cloprostenol followed by infusion or non-infusion with nitrofurazone.

One hundred-fifty-two dairy cows affected with pyometra were treated either with cloprostenol (CLP) or with estradiol cypionate (ECP). The cows which failed to respond within 7-10 days were re-treated with the same drug used in the first treatment. Half of the cows which responded to these treatments received intrauterine infusions with 50 cc nitrofurazone solution. After two treatments, 72 (94.9%) of 79 cows in the CLP group had evacuated the purulent exudate from their uteri whereas only 57 (78.1%) of 73 cows in the ECP group had responded (P<0.005). Treatment-to-breeding and treatment-to-conception intervals were not different between the ECP and CLP groups. The number of services/conception was not different up to the 4th service (3.16 vs 3.57, respectively, P>0.1). Eight (9.3%) of 86 CLP treated and 3 (5.1%) of 59 ECP treated cows had recurrence of pyometra (P>0.1). Incidence of follicular cysts within 30 days after treatment was 16.4% (13 79 ) and 7.0% (4 57 ) among CLP and ECP groups, respectively (P>0.1). Two of 106 CLP (1.9%) and 5 of 107 ECP treatments (4.7%) were associated with subsequent perimetritis and adhesions. Intrauterine infusion of nitrofurazone increased the number of services/ conception (3.57 vs 2.21, P<0.01). Cloprostenol was superior to ECP as an initial treatment of bovine pyometra. Intrauterine infusion of nitrofurazone following evacuation of the uterus appeared not to be effective in prevention of relapses and had a negative effect on conception rates.