My dog's nipples are swollen, leaking pus, and she's whining. Vet?

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Princess. I would advise taking Princess to your veterinarian. It's possible that she is going through a false pregnancy (pseudopregnancy) if you are sure that she didn't get bred by a male dog. Dogs often get mammary enlargement and will lactate when they are in a false pregnancy. Your veterinarian can gather a history and assess Princess. They may want to x-ray or ultrasound her to confirm that she is pregnant or not if she was out of your sight within the past 2 months or so. A false pregnancy usually resolves without treatment but it's also possible that she is developing some mild mastitis from the mammary enlargement. Your vet can advise you on any treatment that might be needed. Good luck with Princess

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!

It could be a false pregnancy, true pregnancy, or a pyometra (though fluid from the nipples is less likely with this issue). The only way to know for sure is to have her examined by a vet. As long as her appetite and behavior are normal, I don't think you need to rush her in.

I would be extremely concerned that Trixie has a pyometra. This is an infection of the uterus that is fatal without treatment. It would cause a purulent discharge from the vagina (the white discharge) as well as pain. This is a medical emergency if she has one, as if it's not treated, she will die. Because I can't see her to rule out a pyometra, she needs to see a vet now. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.

The pictures are a bit blurry, but from what I can see, Katy's nipple looks normal. Since she has not been spayed, it is possible that she is experiencing a false pregnancy (or an actual pregnancy if she has mated with a male dog). If you are feeling any lumps associated with her mammary glands, it would be best to have her examined by a vet.

There are a couple of things that could be wrong with your dog. She could be pregnant causing her swollen nipples and making her feel ill. It could be that she has mammary tumors also causing these symptoms. If she had puppies recently, she could have mastitis (an infection of the mammary glands). Finally, she could have a pyometra which is an infection of the uterus that is fatal without treatment. Because both mastitis and a pyometra are fatal without treatment, and since I can't see her in person to rule them out, I think it's best that she sees a vet right away. The vet can diagnose what is causing these symptoms and the best way to treat her. Please take her into a vet now. Best of luck.

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.