My dog's nipple has a lump and brown/green discharge. Should I worry?

Hello! I am not seeing any pictures attached; you may want to try posting again. White discharge coming from the nipples in an intact (not spayed) dog could be due to a false pregnancy, a true pregnancy (I have certainly seen pregnant dogs in cases where the owners swore they had never bred!), or it could be discharge from a mass associated with the nipple / mammary gland. Mammary masses are quite common in intact females and many of them can cause nipple discharge. I cannot see the picture of the lump on her neck, but lumps on the neck can be any number of possible issues including enlarged lymph nodes or salivary glands, masses growing under the skin, infections, etc. I would recommend having Brandy seen by a vet. They will be able to determine if there is anything abnormal going on with her nipples, and will be able to advise on the lump. If they are concerned about either issue, they may recommend getting a small sample with a needle and looking at the cells under a microscope to determine the most likely cause. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

Hello there! It looks like Princess has a mammary gland problem. What is causing the swelling should be determined at the vet's office. It could be mastitis (an infection of the mammary gland), a cyst (a fluid filled sac), or possibly mammary cancer. At the vet, they will give Princess a complete physical exam, and most likely they will take a small sample of cells from the mass with a small needle to look at under the microscope. This is called a fine needle aspirate, or FNA. The FNA will help the vet determine the cause of the mass and decide it's treatment. An infection may require antibiotics, a cyst may require regular draining, and a tumor may require surgical removal. Mammary tumors in unspayed dogs have the potential of being malignant (the kind of cancer that multiplies and spreads), so they may want to biopsy the mass to rule this out, should it be removed. The brown discharge and milk production may be from a condition called false pregnancy. This occurs when the body is responding as if it has puppies, but it in fact does now. This usually occurs soon after a heat cycle. It is also possible that she has an infection in the uterus, called pyometra, which can also cause abnormal discharge. This also requires a visit to the vet as it could be life threatening. I am suspicious of this due to her straining to go to have a bowel movement, as an enlarged, infected uterus can put pressure on the colon and make a dog feel like they have to go. You should make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible to have Princess checked out. Good luck, and I hope she feels better soon!

Hi and thanks for your request. The one with red liquid may be affected by a mastitis, which is an inflammation/infection of the mammary gland. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Other care recommended for the bitch may include hydration, warm compresses using towels or cabbage leaves, and frequent expression of milk from the infected gland by hand. This alleviates discomfort and swelling while also encouraging blood flow. Hand-milking should be performed every six hours. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Discharge from a nipple can be due to a variety of reasons, including milk production (if not spayed), a bacterial infection, a clogged duct, or another underlying issue. if it is bothering her or you are concerned, I would recommend having her evaluated by her regular veterinarian to determine if there is something that needs to be addressed. Good luck!

I would continue to monitor is for any sudden changes. It should definitely get checked out by a vet in the next few days. Possible causes for this include mammary tumors, tumors not related to the mammary system, infection, or mammary hyperplasia. If it gets suddenly bigger or there is any discharge, I would see a vet sooner.

Angel should be examined by a veterinarian. Cuts in the skin can become infected, particularly if she licks it. Unless Angel is actively nursing a litter of puppies or experiencing a false pregnancy, it is unlikely that she is actually producing milk and you may have seen a purulent/pus-like discharge.