Vaginal dishcarge

Question
My cat is about 5 1/2 yrs old and has a milky white and slightly yellowish discharge from her vagina.  What is this and what could be happening?

Answer
Hi Aaron.  She could have a vaginal infection, which should probably be treated with antibiotics.  

If she isn't spayed, however, she could have a uterine infection called pyometra, which literally translated means pus in the uterus.  This infection is immediately life-threatening.  Not only can the bacteria leave the uterus and spread to other organs, which may cause irreversible damage, but the pressure from the pus build-up can actually cause the uterus to burst.  The best treatment for this condition is an emergency spay surgery.  Despite my experience with the disease and my knowledge of how serious it is, I decided to treat my last cat who was suspected to have early pyometra with antibiotics and get her in for a regular spay appointment instead of having her spayed on an emergency basis.  She died.  So even if your vet doesn't pass along a sense of urgency, if pyometra is thought to be a possibility, I would recommend having a spay done immediately (as in, don't take her home, leave her there for surgery), just in case.