My 4-month-old puppy's swollen, cut nipples: Is it normal?

Hi There! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It probably was due to mild trauma (such as from scratching). Given how it looks, it will likely heal on its own without much treatment if you leave it alone and prevent your pup from licking or chewing at it. Good luck!

Congratulations on your puppy! It is difficult to tell for certain from a photo, but it looks as though Mollie could have a pustule located adjacent to her nipple and that is what you are seeing. this is a little spot of infection under the skin (like a whitehead pimple in people). This isn't uncommon in puppies (we call it puppy pyoderma) and we often treat with a medicated shampoo or topical antibiotic in mild cases. I would wash the area with a mild soap and apply a triple antibiotic ointment for now and schedule an appointment with the vet to have it looked at to be on the safe side, as I said it is impossible to say for certain from a photo if this is exactly what is going on.

Hello. This is nothing to be overly concerned about. Manakoa is old enough that there are hormones circulating & this nipple just seems to be a little more sensitive to the effects of estrogen at this point in time. If you were planning on spaying her, this is a good time to consider doing so, but otherwise, as long as the nipple does not continue to show further hormonal influence, it should not significantly affect her. If it does continue to enlarge & seems to bother her, do see your vet. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. The nipple is definitely red & inflamed, but this does not always indicate the presence of an infection. For now, you can rub a little 1% hydrocortisone on the skin 2-3 times a day, & if it is not looking any better by early in the week, please have your veterinarian take a look. Thank you.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly just a small laceration or wound on the top of the nipple. I would just continue to monitor it for now. If it heals on its own then you do not need to be concerned about it. This should happen relatively quickly. If it does not heal in the next week, have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!

Thank you for proving a picture of Hugo! It looks like one of his nipples is swollen. This could be due to trauma. He could have injured that area, and he now has a hematoma. It could also be an infection, which could be caused if he received a bite from another animal. It could be a reaction to an insect bite, such as an allergic reaction. Finally, it could be a fungal infection. Without seeing him in person, I can't say for certain so I do recommend it getting checked out by a vet. The vet can diagnose what is causing the swelling and how best to treat it. Good luck, I hope this helps!

This does look like a skin rash. I would clean it with antibacterial soap and then apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment on it. It should heal in a few days to a week. Please keep her from rubbing or scratching the area. If you see more lesions then I recommend a veterinary exam and treatment. She may be developing a mild skin infection that would need oral antibiotics. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Grace.