Why is my 4-year-old dog always in heat, nipples swollen & moody?

She may be having a false pregnancy. If she had contact with a male while she was in heat, she could be pregnant. She could also have a hormonal problem or a mammary tumor. It would be best to take her to a veterinarian for an exam. The vet can also tell you whether she is pregnant. Unfortunately this is impossible without a hands-on exam.

The timing and symptoms could point to a false pregnancy. Have a examined by your veterinarian for confirmation. Treatment is typically not required in mild cases. Symptoms should abate within 2-3 weeks. If they don't or her behavior worsens, your vet can dispense medications to decrease milk production and possibly tranquilizers/sedatives for anxiety. Severe cases can be treated with hormone replacement therapy. To prevent​ future episodes, having her spayed would be the recommended course of action.

Yes if she didn’t get bred she could be having a false pregnancy. If you don’t plan to breed her I do recommend having her spayed. Dogs that have irregular heat cycles and false pregnancies can get uterine infections that can be very serious and need emergency treatment and spaying. Also the constant hormonal ups and downs make dogs moody and may be a factor in developing breast cancer sometimes later in life. A false pregnancy can last the nine weeks of a normal pregnancy then she should get over it a week or two after that. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Lily.

It is not unusual for the vulva to remain swollen for a period of time after the "heat" cycle is over. In dogs, there are [4 stages of estrus](https://www.petcoach.co/article/anatomy-and-function-of-the-reproductive-system-in-dogs). The combination of proestrus and estrus, which is often referred to as "heat" by breeders, lasts approximately 21 days. "Heat" is followed by diestrus and anestrus. During proestrus, the vulva swells and has a bloody discharge. During estrus, the vulva softens and becomes pliable in preparation for mating. It can take several weeks following estrus for the vulva to shrink back down in size, but it will never go back to the size it was before the first heat cycle. The same is true of the mammary glands, which enlarge slightly in preparation for [pregnancy](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/pregnancy/).

She is likely suffering from a phantom pregnancy, i would recommend taking her to the vet anyway in order to get it checked, just to be on the safe side. there is no treatment for this (other than getting her spayed, which i strongly recommend in her case), it will resolve eventually within a few weeks, but it is also likely to reoccur in future heat cycles.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is possible that Harley could be going through something called 'pseudo-pregnancy'. Dogs can develop mammary glands, produce milk, and will sometimes even start to nest and collect small stuffed animals to nurse. This is normal and will subside in a few weeks. However, it is recommended to get her spayed before her next heat so she doesn't have to go through that stress again. The other possible cause is something called a pyometra. This is an infected uterus and is life-threatening. If you notice any discharge from her vulva, if she is weak, not eating, drinking more, or acting abnormally at all, I would have her seen by your vet right away. Best of luck with Harley.

It is possible that Bella is heading into another heat. While dogs typically go into heat every six months, they can go into heat sooner, and it's a possibility if her last heat was a few months ago. She could also be experiencing a false pregnancy if there's no chance she would be pregnant. I would have her seen by a vet in the morning for a definitive diagnosis as to why she is experiencing these symptoms.