Why is my dog producing milk and licking her vulva after heat?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Is she was allowed access to intact male dogs she could be pregnant but you wouldn't see symptoms this soon. She may be experiencing a false pregnancy this is a hormonal imbalance where the body makes hormones that mimic pregnancy. The dog will nest, act anxious, carry stuffed animals around, the mammary glands can become enlarged and they can even produce milk. It lasts a few weeks then resolves. The only thing that doesn't fit is the excessive licking. Possible causes for excessive licking of the vulva is a urinary tract infection, crystals in the urine or a skin infection around the vulva. I would collect a urine sample and bring it with you to have Milah examined. I wish you the best!

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.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It can take a bit for the vulva and mammary glands to decrease from the hormones. She could also be experiencing a false pregnancy, which is a hormonal imbalance that can cause pregnancy symptoms: swollen mammary glands, milk development, nesting behavior, anxiety, carrying stuffed animals around. It usually resolves in 2-3 months. Causes for the area of hair loss are: trauma/injury/abrasion, skin infection, ring worm, demodex. I would put her on one of the oral flea and tick medications: Nexgard, Bravecto, or Simparica. All 3 also kill demodex as well. If the spot grows or doesn't resolve then I would have her seen. I hope this helps!

Hello. It is possible that your girl is having what we call a false pregnancy. I have attached an article below that fully explains it. You will want to stop her nursing in order to stop the milk production. An e-collar might be necessary for this. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1896 Please let me know if that is helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

[False pregnancy](https://www.petcoach.co/article/false-pregnancy-in-dogs), or pseudopregnancy, is a term used to describe a common condition in a non-pregnant female dog that is showing symptoms of [pregnancy](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/pregnancy/), lactation, or nursing, without producing puppies. The affected female dog shows these symptoms about a month or two after her estrus (heat) is over. A hormonal imbalance is thought to play a central role in affected female dogs. Depending on the severity of problem, the symptoms may last for more than a month. Unless symptoms persist, treatment is typically unnecessary. Otherwise, your veterinarian may recommend hormonal supplementation or spaying to prevent further episodes. To reduce mammary gland secretions, your veterinarian will advise you on using cold or warm packs to minimize the stimulation that promotes lactation. An Elizabethan collar (cone) can also help prevent the self-nursing or licking behavior that can stimulate lactation. In some patients, reducing the daily food intake can help to reduce the production of milk. If you are not planning to breed your dog and do not want her to reproduce in the future, [spaying](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-great-reasons-to-spay-or-neuter-your-pet) is recommended for preventing future episodes of false pregnancy behavior. The overall prognosis is good and most dogs improve within two to three weeks, even without treatment.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It looks like your pet has a case of vaginitis, inflammation of the vagina, or she has an ongoing discharge, possibly due to an infection in the cervix or uterus. She may need antibiotics, especially if she is off her appetite, drinking an excesssive amount of water &/ or peeing a lot, or seems unhappy or lethargic. Otherwise, if she seems normal, give her a few days to see if things begin to clear up. You can use warm water, or a gentle facial wipe to keep the area clean, & monitor for any further changes. Hopefully, all will be normal soon. Take care.

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/).