My dog's breasts are swollen and engorged after birth. Is this normal?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bella. The pups may not be nursing that gland as often resulting in engorgement. I recommend encouraging the pups to use that gland. The other concern I have is that mastitis could be starting. Ideally she should see her veterinarian to ensure that this is not the case. I hope this information helps!

Panting and swollen nipples are quite normal for a dog with newborn puppies, as she has only 2 puppies i would not be too worried about the swollen nipples, they have plenty more to feed from. as long as she is otherwise normally behaving and eating she should be fine.

That could be a normal reaction of the mammary glands after the season, and it is likely to resolve spontaneously one or two weeks after the season. if signs persist more than that and discharge comes out from nipples a check up would ideal as false pregnancy or mammary gland inflammation/infection may be present.

Engorgement is the previous stage to mastitis, so if you manage to get the milk flowing, you will be safe. If not, the mammary gland will progressively become harder and more painful, progressing to infection that will require medical treatment. If in doubt best to have her checked over, as mastitis can be quite serious. Hope she gets better soon !

In an older dog a swelling like this around the teat is most often a mammary lump. 50% are benign and 50% cancerous in dogs. They can be closely linked to hormones hence the fluctuation in size. Other causes would be mastitis or mammary development, but this photo does look like a lump. It can be tested by the vet to know what sort it is.

Hello. If you are sure that she is not pregnant, then this is just a hormonal response. The breast gland tissue may regress a bit, but as long as she remains unsprayed, she may develop a little more with each heat cycle. Spaying her now may help regress the tissues totally, but with each additional heat cycle, she may develop just a little bit more. So yes, this is a normal condition in an unsprayed female dog. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Mira. If you are sure that she is not pregnant, then she is likely experiencing a phenomenon known as a false pregnancy. Most of the time, symptoms will resolve with in 2-3 weeks. However, this is likely to recur with subsequent heat cycles. If she is not going to be used for breeding, spaying her will prevent this in the future. If she is acting ill or her symptoms do not resolve, then she will need to see her veterinarian. I hope this information helps!