In this article on our site we will talk about why a dog has fluid coming out of her breasts We will explain what this secretion can be like, What is it due to and what do we have to do? Keep in mind that the appearance of fluid in the breasts outside the lactation period will indicate a pathology. The best prevention to avoid these disorders is sterilization, which is recommended before the bitch goes through her first heat.
My dog has white fluid coming from her breasts
Obviously, if our dog has had puppies, as a mammal she will produce milk to feed them. The milk secretion may begin to flow a few days before delivery, being completely normal We should not touch or squeeze, since production is triggered by the stimulus and, therefore, This is something that only puppies should do, to adjust the amount of milk to their needs.
If the bitch has clear fluid coming from her mammary glands shortly before giving birth, this is also normal, as is a yellowish discharge. The problem is when a dog has milk without being pregnant or just giving birth. In this case we may be facing a pseudo-pregnancy, also known as false pregnancy, psychological pregnancy or pseudocyesisWe will see below why in this ailment the dog leaks fluid from the mammary glands.
If my dog leaks milk, is she pregnant?
We have seen that if a bitch has white, transparent or yellowish liquid coming out of her breasts, it is normal if she is at the end of her pregnancy. But not always when this secretion appears we will be facing a pregnant dog. Sometimes, after heat, the bitch's body triggers a series of hormonal reactions that would be the same as those that would occur in the case of pregnancy. Happens about 6-8 weeks after heat
When this happens, the dog experiences a pseudo-pregnancy or psychological pregnancy, in which she may adopt a stuffed animal as a cub to whom she will provide maternal care and for which she will prepare a nest. You can get to defend it aggressively. Other bitches are depressed. In the middle of this state, in addition to secretion, the breasts can enlarge and harden, causing pain and may cause mastitis The abdomen can be distended, intermittent vomiting and diarrhea.
We must not manipulate the mammary glands, since we would stimulate production, in fact, the licking of the dog itself maintains the problem in the mammary glands. Most of these cases resolve spontaneously within weeks, although veterinary treatment may be required for mastitis or aggressiveness. We must know that a bitch with pseudopregnancy may repeat it in subsequent heats, so sterilization is recommended.
My dog is getting yellow fluid from her teats
Sometimes a female dog will leak fluid from her teats that is yellowish in color and thick in texture. This occurs in females that have just given birth and suffer from acute septic mastitis This is a bacterial infection in one or several mammary glands. It occurs during the first days after birth and can be caused by the scratching of the puppies when feeding, which creates an injury through which the bacteria enter.
Affected bitches have a fever, are depressed and refuse food Infected mammary glands, which are usually the ones closest to groin, they hurt and turn bluish. In addition, the milk secretion appears yellowish and even bloody, as we have said, although other times the milk remains white.
Requires veterinary treatment with antibiotics and heat application several times a dayto proceed to empty the breast. Puppies do not usually accept this milk, so the mother stops producing it in a few days. You have to watch the puppies because sometimes the mother, due to illness, cannot take care of them. In that case, artificial feeding would have to be resorted to. As prevention, the puppies' nails could be cut if we notice them especially sharp or long.
My dog has brown fluid coming out of her teats
A female dog has brown fluid coming from her breasts if is tinged with blood, which can happen in a case ofmastitis , like the one we explained in the previous section.
If our dog has a dark, brown or reddish liquid coming from her mammary glands but she has not just given birth, it could be due to the presence of a tumorin one or more breasts, a fairly common cancer in non-sterilized females, especially after six years of age. The main symptom of mammary cancer in dogs is a painless mass that sometimes causes skin ulceration and bleeding. These types of tumors usually recur and produce metastases in the lungs. Treatment involves surgery, and prevention consists of sterilization before the first heat and periodic observation of the breasts in older females. If we detect any mass, we should immediately go to the vet.
