Why are my unspayed dog's teats swollen if she's not pregnant?

Poor silver! She could be pregnant (unless y'all have watched her 100% of the time she is outside) or she could be going through a false pregnancy (they think they are pregnant and will show similar signs of swollen mammary glands, nesting, whining, etc). She could also have an infection in her mammary tissues. I would recommend to contact your vet for an exam to confirm that she isn't pregnant and see what is going on. I hope she starts to feel better!

[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.

Hi there. I am sorry to hear about Opal's troubles. In an unspayed, female dog, a swollen and red hot teat can mean anything from infection to inflammation to cancer. I would definitely have Opal examined by a veterinarian right away to insure she doesn't need medications like antibiotics or anti-inflammatories, to be sure she doesn't have a systemic infection of some kind, or also that she doesn't have a cancerous mammary gland. For now, she may have some relief if you use a cool compress for 5-10 minutes 2-3 times per day. I hope you find this answer helpful. Best of luck!

There are a couple of reasons that you might be seeing swelling with Lily's mammary glands. If she has had a first heat cycle (which can sometimes be a "silent" heat or difficult to see) that would be the most likely possbility. I would recommend that your vet examine her tomorrow to see what they think is going on. They will likely still be able to do her spay tomorrow. I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is possible that Harley could be going through something called 'pseudo-pregnancy'. Dogs can develop mammary glands, produce milk, and will sometimes even start to nest and collect small stuffed animals to nurse. This is normal and will subside in a few weeks. However, it is recommended to get her spayed before her next heat so she doesn't have to go through that stress again. The other possible cause is something called a pyometra. This is an infected uterus and is life-threatening. If you notice any discharge from her vulva, if she is weak, not eating, drinking more, or acting abnormally at all, I would have her seen by your vet right away. Best of luck with Harley.

tAs long as she didn't get bred or is going through a false pregnancy, most dogs will shrink down within 2-3 weeks or so months from the heat cycle. It should be noted they will never shrink back to the size they were prior to here heat cycle. Since her teats and vulva are still swollen, I recommend to have her examined to find out if something is wrong or if she is pregnant. I do recommend to spay Oakley unless she is planned to be a breeding dog. There are many health and behavioral benefits to the procedure. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

She is likely suffering from a phantom pregnancy, i would recommend taking her to the vet anyway in order to get it checked, just to be on the safe side. there is no treatment for this (other than getting her spayed, which i strongly recommend in her case), it will resolve eventually within a few weeks, but it is also likely to reoccur in future heat cycles.