Accepted Answer

Hello there!

I'm sorry to hear about your girl.

There's a couple of possible causes for the swellings, including a real pregnancy, a false pregnancy, an infection or a tumor.

First possibility is that your girl is pregnant. If she's spayed, there's no possibility of this. But if she's not spayed, it is possible. Other symptoms include lethargy, "nesting" behaviors, restlessness, weight gain/loss, and a change in appetite.

The first possibility is that your girl is experiencing a false or phantom pregnancy. And you most often see this in girls who have never been spayed. What happens is the body believes that it's pregnant, and this usually arises between four and eight weeks after your girl is in heat. The hormone levels often change dramatically following a heat cycle, despite whether the dog is actually pregnant, and this is why you can see these behaviors and many of the physical symptoms of pregnancy. The false pregnancy usually lasts for a couple of weeks and the symptoms will disappear over time. But only your vet can tell you for sure as to whether she's expecting.

Here's links to learn more about phantom pregnancy:
http://www.sniksnak.com/doghealth/false.html
http://www.submityourarticle.com/articles/Alison-Grimston-2656/phantom-pregnancy-in-dogs-22220.php

An infection is another possibility here. Bacterial or skin infections can occur in this area, especially since the undercarriage is exposed to dirt and all sorts of other things while she's walking or playing outside. You can also see cysts and pimples form, when dead skin or dirt clog the pores - just like in humans. But if the swellings are uniform and around two nipples, this is rather unlikely.
A more likely infection is something called mastitis. Mastitis is an infection involving the nipples. It's more common in dogs with a low ground clearance, as the nipples are more prone to trauma and bacteria. And of course, an intact female is more prone as well, since these infections can be associated with lactation and nursing.
If you suspect this, it's important to get to the vet as soon as possible, as the infection can worsen and spread to other parts of the body. You can also end up with an abscess, where the pocket of infection ruptures, and you're left with an open wound. A round of antibiotics usually cures the situation pretty quickly.

Here's more on mastitis:
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/mastitis-in-dogs/page1.aspx
http://ezinearticles.com/?Canine-Mastitis&id=7609
http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/breeding/mastitis.htm

A tumor, specifically one affecting the mammary glands, is also a possibility, especially if your girl is not spayed.
The prognosis and treatment varies depending on whether the tumor is benign or malignant, its size, exact location, etc.

Here's a site to learn more about these tumors:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&articleid=460
http://www.oncolink.com/types/article.cfm?c=22&s=69&ss=546&id=6008

In any event, if your girl is uncomfortable, warm compresses can help soothe the area. A warm washcloth, for example, can really work wonders.

I hope your girl is feeling better soon! Don't hesitate to let me know if you have any additional questions!

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-Mia Carter
Pet Expert

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Expert:	Mia Carter
Pos. Feedback:	99.5 %
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Answered:	4/1/2008

Animal Expert

Specializing in the training and care of ill pets and special needs animals! Mom of 22 pets!