Swollen glands in a dog after estrus. False pregnancy in dogs: causes, signs, treatment

Mastitis is an acute or chronic inflammation mammary gland. Most often, mastitis in dogs is recorded in the postpartum period or in the presence of a false pregnancy, when the dog’s mammary glands intensively secrete milk. Of the microbial associations, the main causative agents of mastitis are staphylococci and streptococci.

Immediate cause The causes of mastitis in dogs are:

1. Breast injuries, often caused by the claws of hungry puppies during sucking, as a result of which a bacterial infection penetrates into the wounds, leading to inflammation.
2. Stagnation of milk in the mammary gland(the so-called congestive mastitis), caused by the accumulation of unsucked milk in the dog’s udder during the birth of a dead litter, early incorrect weaning of puppies from their mother, and during intensive lactation in the bitch.
3. Postpartum infection and intoxication of the body if there are emphysematous fetuses in the uterus, a retained fetus, postpartum endometritis, as well as for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
4. False pregnancy (usually 2 months after estrus).
5. Blockage of the nipple sphincter duct.

Mastitis in dogs can occur from high and low temperatures, effects on the mammary gland chemical substances , as a result of stress. Plays a major role in the occurrence of mastitis in dogs. hereditary predisposition to this disease.

The inflammatory process in the mammary gland in dogs most often occurs in the form catarrhal or purulent mastitis, involving one or more mammary gland packages in the process.

Symptoms In a sick dog, we note lethargy, decreased or lack of appetite. Affected packages mammary glands visually increased in size, upon palpation dense, painful and hot to the touch, their skin is reddened(if the skin is not pigmented). When pressing on the nipples, it is released from them during catarrhal mastitis. watery milk mixed with greenish-brown or gray-white flakes. With purulent mastitis - a small amount, sometimes a few drops of yellowish or yellowish-brown liquid or a thick gray mass, often mixed with blood. In the absence of timely qualified veterinary care catarrhal and purulent mastitis can develop into an abscess, in which the abscesses spontaneously open and dark gray purulent contents with scraps of necrotic tissue are released from the resulting fistula, and subsequently into phlegmon and gangrene of the udder.

Treatment. We provide a sick dog complete peace. If she feeds puppies during this period, then they must be switched to artificial feeding. IN initial stage we apply diseases conservative methods treatment. In the initial stage of mastitis, we get good results from using laser devices various modifications, using STP for 1.5-2.5 minutes. The course of treatment consists of 2-5 sessions. We use antibiotics from penicillins to modern ones cephalosporins and quinolones. Ideally, it would be necessary to first carry out subtitration of the causative agent of mastitis isolated from the inflammatory secretion of the mammary gland to antibiotics and further treatment with a titrated antibiotic.

Good results in the initial stages of development of catarrhal and purulent mastitis get from using short novocaine blockade of affected packets 0.5% solution of novocaine in a dose of 5-20 ml into the connecting space between the base of each diseased gland packet and abdominal wall. If necessary, the blockade can be repeated after 1-3 days. For an outpatient visit veterinary clinic it can be done once every 3 days, using bicillin-3 as an antibiotic at a dose of 15,000-20,000 U. per 1 kg of dog's body weight.

In the stage of resolution of the inflammatory process, thermal procedures are used locally - heating pads, poultices, warming compresses, paraffin baths, irradiation with a Solux lamp. A good effect comes from the use of ozokerite, which provides deep heating of tissues. It is not recommended to prescribe compresses and poultices for breast abscesses because as a result of passive hyperemia, there is a deterioration in blood supply and there may be a danger of opening an abscess with subsequent breakthrough of pus into healthy adjacent tissues.

Now found wide application new modern medicinal product MASTOMETRINE restoring the function of the endometrium and mammary gland and having an anti-inflammatory effect, using 1 time per day can be combined with traumatic(can be in one syringe) intramuscularly or subcutaneously in dose 1-2ml. A course of treatment 3-5 injections.

With absence positive results from conservative method treatment for several days, it is necessary to resort to surgical interventions due to the presence of many small abscesses with thick pus in the thickness of a non-absorbable compaction. Mature abscesses open it up, purulent cavities are sprinkled with streptocide powder, tricillin and other antimicrobial agents and subsequently treated with antimicrobial ointments and emulsions.

Prevention. Requires dog owners to comply zoohygienic conditions their contents, full feeding, proper care for them, preventing injury, hypothermia and contamination of the udder. Dog owners should prevent and promptly treat postpartum complications and diseases of the digestive system.

If the owners keep the dog outside, in the yard, then the kennel must be arranged so that it can be easily disinfected and the bedding can be changed as often as possible. In winter, there should be no ice on the bed in front of the booth; we close the hole into the booth with a curtain made of tarpaulin or burlap.

When keeping a dog in an apartment, we assign it a certain place. The dog must not be placed in the kitchen, in the toilet room, or near the door. For rest, a rug is laid out for the dog, which dog owners must vacuum or beat out in the yard daily. Once a week the rug is boiled. Hair mattresses, mattresses stuffed with straw, hay or shavings are of little use as bedding, as they are difficult to keep clean.

For whelping, a dog kept in an apartment is provided with a place in the form of a box with bedding. To prevent the dog from injuring the teats of the udder when leaving the box, we make one side of it low, covered with cloth. In long-haired dog breeds, the hair around the nipples is trimmed.

After the birth has taken place, we remove the damp, contaminated litter from the nest and replace the contaminated litter with clean litter.

For a whelping dog, we wash the hind limbs, belly, and tail with warm water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and then wipe it dry with a clean napkin. In the future, throughout the entire suckling period, the cleanliness of the nest and the dog’s body is monitored.

To avoid mastitis of traumatic origin in puppies 8-10 days after birth, and then every two weeks we cut off the sharp ends of the claws on the front paws with scissors so that they do not scratch the skin of the mammary gland. If wounds or scratches are found on the skin of the udder, they should be treated in a timely manner (5% tincture of iodine, brilliant green, etc.).

Timely delivery medical care for diseases postpartum period(retained placenta, postpartum endometritis), pathological childbirth, as well as diseases of the digestive system.

To prevent mastitis, lactating bitches are regularly examined and the nipples are massaged, since lumps left after mastitis can subsequently cause tumors of the mammary glands.

In cases where a dog’s offspring dies, as well as during a false pregnancy, in order to reduce the production of milk, dog owners should limit feeding the female, exclude food of animal origin from the diet (milk, dairy products, reduce the amount of meat) and provide water.

In cases where the owner does not want the litter, we leave 1-2 puppies under the female for preventive purposes. If all the puppies have died, lubricate the dog’s mammary glands with camphor oil and bandage it tightly.

If the owner does not plan to breed the dog, then it is better sterilize. This operation is carried out before the first heat. (at the age of 8-10 months) or 2 months after estrus.

Such hormonal changes are determined by evolution and occur in pack dogs. In a pack, females come into heat at the same time, therefore, puppies are born at the same time. Hormonal changes allow even females who have not become pregnant to participate in feeding puppies, thanks to which even cubs whose mother has lost milk or died survive.

In conditions wildlife When food is scarce, females produce less milk and the strongest puppies survive. This is advisable so that the flock does not increase in unfavorable conditions and there is no competition for a small amount of food. To prevent and treat false pregnancy in domestic dogs, artificial “unfavorable conditions” are created - a diet with a reduced calorie content and increased physical exercise.

This condition is not a pathology. Associated with hormonal imbalance. After estrus, the animal’s body begins to produce corpus luteum. Accordingly, due to the high release of lactogenic substances, signs of pregnancy appear.

If fertilization does not occur in the female, the corpora lutea gradually disappear and the body returns to normal. The lifespan of corpora lutea is equal to the pregnancy period of dogs - up to 70 days.

Causes of the syndrome: metritis, purulent inflammatory processes (pyometra); lack of regular breeding activities; uneven or increased production of a hormone that occurs only during pregnancy.

Whether fertilization has occurred or not, the animal still releases pregnancy hormones. The more hormones, the more pronounced the pseudopregnancy syndrome.

Depending on the dog's age, it physiological state, we can identify several main reasons for swelling of the mammary glands in an animal.

1. Galactostasis is an excessive accumulation of milk in lactating animals, which leads to inflammation of the mammary gland (mastitis). This, for example, happens if puppies do not completely empty their mother’s mammary glands and leave a lot of milk.
2. Galactorrhea is the secretion of milk from the mammary glands in a dog that is not feeding. At the same time, the gland also swells, looks swollen, and a secretion appears from it, ranging from transparent to milky and yellowish in color.
3. Mastitis is an infection of the breast. Mastitis can affect just one or a few glands in a dog. In addition to swelling, hyperemia of the gland, increased temperature and severe pain may be observed.
4. Tumors (neoplasia) of the breast are malignant neoplasms that can affect one or all of a dog’s mammary glands.
5. Fibroepithelial hypertrophy of the mammary glands is a benign growth of breast tissue.

Older animals over 6 years of age are primarily at risk. At the age of 10 years, according to veterinary statistics, every fifth dog undergoes a neoplasm.

Reasons for the development of pathology	Rationale
Genetic predisposition	Representatives of such breeds as Caucasian and German Shepherd, Yorkshire Terrier, Poodle, Setter, English Cocker Spaniel, Maltese, according to veterinarians and breeders, are most often susceptible to mammary gland cancer.
Heredity	There is numerous information that high risk development of neoplasms in mammary glands persists in the presence of a similar disease in the canine family.
Hormonal imbalances	Sex hormones often take an active part in the pathogenesis of the development of a particular neoplasm. results scientific research indicate that in non-sterilized females the risk of developing cancer pathology increases significantly compared to sterilized individuals.

In addition, the likelihood of developing a malignant tumor during early surgery in terms of removal of reproductive organs (at the age of 6 months) in a dog is almost zero.

Most experts believe that the source of this condition in dogs is hormonal changes during the sexual cycle. As is known, there are several phases of the estrous cycle, namely: 1) proestrus: the period preceding estrus, during which the formation of eggs ready for fertilization occurs;

2) estrus: coincides in time with estrus, the optimal time for mating 3) metaestrus: the period after the end of the “hunt”, during which regression of the so-called “corpus luteum” occurs if fertilization has not occurred 4) anestrus: a state of “rest” when the bitch’s sexual behavior does not manifest itself or manifests itself weakly.

False pregnancy occurs due to the fact that regression of the corpus luteum promotes the production of progesterone, the pregnancy hormone. Unlike other animals, dogs corpus luteum does not dissolve, but functions for about 60 days, regardless of whether the bitch is pregnant or not. Thus, the dog’s brain and internal organs seem to receive a “hormonal signal” that it needs to prepare for the arrival of puppies. When the time comes for the dog to give birth, the release of prolactin, a hormone that promotes the appearance of milk in the dog, begins.

• The tumor can be presented in the form of either a single solid neoplasm, or in the form of several compactions.
• The owner can detect them on his own. For this he will need carefully palpate your pet's mammary glands.
• A newly grown tumor resembles a hard pea, which almost does not move in the subcutaneous layers.
• Sometimes OMF grows rapidly in size and in 3-4 weeks it doubles.
• Distinguish a benign neoplasm from a malignant one can only veterinarian . A noncancerous tumor has a smooth surface. She has a small size. It grows quite slowly.

Malignant tumor

The following are characteristic of a malignant neoplasm:

1. Rapid growth.
2. Wrong shape.
3. Stability on the surface of the skin and other tissues.
4. The appearance of bleeding.
5. Changing the shade of fabrics.
6. The appearance of ulcers.
7. Swelling of the paws.

The latter symptom appears only when the lymph nodes are affected.

Early stages

In the early stages, cancer develops asymptomatically. Without regular palpation of the mammary glands, a dangerous disease can only be detected when it has developed to a critical stage.

Types of breast tumors

Owners should clearly understand that mammary tumors in dogs are not always a death sentence. Experienced veterinarians are convinced that cancer occurs only in 40% of cases. Now let’s figure out what types of breast cancer there are.

TO benign neoplasms should include:

• adenomas: simple and complex;
• papillomas formed on the milk ducts;
• fibroadenomas;
• neoplasms of mixed type, which consist of glandular and connective tissues.

Malignant tumors are presented as:

• carcinomas;
• fibrosarcomas and osteosarcomas;
• tubular cancer;
• adenocarcinoma of the nipple;
• anaplastic cancer.

Thus, treatment of a mammary tumor depends entirely on the course of the pathology itself in the dog’s body. If we talk about the differences in treatment depending on the tissue type of the tumor, then within the same course the methods of therapeutic intervention are always similar to each other.

In veterinary practice, there are more than a dozen different types of mammary gland tumors in dogs. Complex classification is associated with histological structure tumor, its localization, damage to one or another tissue/cellular structure. In general, all neoplasms are divided into benign and malignant (cancerous).

Malignant

Basic distinctive feature cancerous tumor is hers fast growth and the ability to metastasize throughout the body. There are two forms in dogs malignant neoplasms– nodular and diffuse. In the first case, the swelling is small and can be single or multiple.

In the diffuse form, an extensive, diffuse, pathological formation without clear boundaries is observed. This form of pathology has the most unfavorable prognosis for the life of a pet.

Types of malignant breast lesions include:

• papillary adenocarcinoma;
• armored cancer;
• carcinoma;
• anaplastic cancer;
• sarcoma;
• tubular cancer.

The most aggressive form of neoplasms is adenocarcinoma and the armored type of pathology. Both varieties are characterized by lightning-fast growth and the rapid formation of metastases to internal organs and regional lymph nodes.

Benign

This type of neoplasm in the dog’s mammary gland is characterized by long-term development, absence of metastases, and a favorable prognosis for the sick pet. The following types of such tumors are known in veterinary practice:

• adenomas;
• fibroadenomas;
• papillomas;
• mixed neoplasms.

Most often, fibroadenoma is diagnosed in dogs, which accounts for approximately 35 - 40% of calls for swelling in the mammary glands.

Causes of false pregnancy in dogs

The syndrome appears approximately 5-8 weeks after the last estrus. It’s easy to determine by the following signs:

• morning sickness: nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, abdominal cramps. Possible constant hunger frequent urination, swelling of the mammary glands;
• change in appetite - the dog either eats a lot, or refuses to eat, or there is a change in food preferences;
• weight increases, milk or colostrum appears, mammary glands swell;
• coprophagia - sometimes the animal begins to consume feces as food;
• anxiety - by the time the cubs are falsely born, the bitch begins to feel short of breath, her behavior becomes agitated, and the animal refuses to go for a walk. If the owner begins to insist on walking, the false mother begins to “cry” and imitate abdominal cramps near the entrance door;
• nesting - the bitch begins to build a nest, expressing affection for toys, slippers and other things that in her imagination play the role of puppies (brings them to the nest and protects them from others).

Pseudopregnancy is characterized by signs that are observed during real pregnancy. Accordingly, if a bitch is found listed signs, it is worth contacting a veterinarian for a correct diagnosis.

• - enlargement and swelling of the mammary glands;
• - change in pigmentation of the mammary glands;
• - formation and release of milk (colostrum) from the mammary glands;
• - swelling of the loop and the appearance of discharge from it;
• - loss of appetite.

Except physical condition The behavior of a bitch changes during pseudo-pregnancy:

• - the dog makes a “den” - a place for future puppies;
• - pulls soft toys into the nest, which he selflessly nurses (puts them under his stomach, licks them);
• - loses interest in other areas of life (walks, games, training), becomes apathetic or, conversely, nervous, “twitchy”;
• - in the most difficult cases the bitch may even begin to guard her den and non-existent puppies.

Signs of false pregnancy in dogs can be divided into physiological and behavioral. During the “spoon”, the dog’s belly visually enlarges and sags, the mammary glands swell and seem to “coarse”. The bitch becomes restless and her appetite increases. She begins to prepare for the arrival of the “puppies” - she builds a “nest”, hides in secluded places in the apartment, sometimes on the contrary, she becomes overly sociable and even intrusive with the owners.

After the “birth” period has passed, the dog begins to nurse toys, mistaking them for puppies. She can lie with them in the “nest” for a long time, reacting extremely aggressively to attempts to drive her out of there or take away her toys. Shortly before or immediately after “birth” (about 2 months from the middle of the last heat), the dog begins to lactate (i.e., milk appears).

Many doctors recommend spaying dogs to solve this problem, and in many cases this actually helps (as long as the dog's reproductive organs are removed and not simply "tied").

If for some reason you do not want to sterilize your dog, you can try to eliminate or minimize the manifestations of false pregnancy after estrus by adjusting the dog’s walking routine and diet. Starting from the 9th day after the end of estrus, it is necessary to reduce portions of both food and water, excluding meat and dairy products, and at the same time increase physical activity for the dog. As practice shows, this significantly “softens” or even helps to avoid the occurrence of false pregnancy syndrome.

If a false pregnancy in a dog is severe, the above symptoms are combined with apathy, you must seek professional veterinary help. Hormonal therapy is often used to treat false pregnancy, however hormonal medications, as a rule, have a number of side effects and can be dangerous.

Clinical picture and symptoms

False pregnancy occurs 1-2 months after estrus; it is normal that the author of the message noticed the swollen mammary glands in the pet later. Symptoms manifest themselves individually, sometimes clearly expressed, sometimes invisible.

Manifestations of false greed:

• The mammary glands swell and enlarge.
• Colostrum begins to be released.
• The color of the mammary glands changes.
• Appetite increases.
• Discharge appears from the loop (genital organs).
• Behavior changes: the dog becomes restless or lethargic, loses interest in walks, games, builds a nest and guards, nurses soft toys, licks them.
• The belly becomes enlarged, as during pregnancy.
• In severe cases of severe hormonal imbalances, imaginary labor and contractions occur.

Manifestations of the condition vary from person to person; in the absence of discharge and changes in behavior, the case is considered mild.

In the early stages, a breast tumor is almost impossible to identify. It can appear in the form of a lump or a small pea, which is sometimes very difficult to notice. The animal does not react in any way to developing pathology, it doesn’t itch, doesn’t whine, doesn’t try to lick her. Only an aggressive tumor such as inflammatory carcinoma, which affects the dog's mammary glands with large and painful abscesses, gives obvious symptoms at the very beginning.

New growths on the glands are most often discovered by owners accidentally, when touching the organ. At that time, a lumpy, stable formation will already have formed there. However, veterinarians advise paying attention to the following symptoms characteristic of a tumor:

1. Single or multiple, with good differentiation, lumps, swellings or nodules that are located in the tissues of the glands of the animal.
2. Often the neoplasms are connected to the nipple and may be covered with ulcers.
3. Lumps and nodules can move freely under the animal’s skin, which is a good sign of their good quality. Or, on the contrary, they are well fixed and sit deep, which indicates a formidable sign of malignancy.
4. When you press your finger into the area of ​​the mammary glands, the dog may whine or even try to bite the owner. This indicates that the tumor is painful.
5. Unpleasant whitish discharge from the nipples.
6. Enlarged lymph nodes in the armpit or groin area. This is a terrible sign that the tumor has begun to metastasize.

It is extremely important for the owner to understand that in many respects the development of symptoms in the case of malignant tumor, is connected with where exactly it will metastasize. For example, the presence of shortness of breath or difficulty breathing is a sign that metastases are going to the lungs, lameness - to the bones of the paws. If a dog exhibits any of the listed symptoms, it must be urgently taken to a doctor, who will conduct a diagnosis and determine how to treat the pet.

The external location of the mammary glands greatly facilitates early detection dangerous pathology. However, in order to detect a tumor in a timely manner, the owner should regularly feel the pet’s abdominal area. The following symptoms should alert you:

• The presence of one or more lumps under the skin. Redness of the skin is often detected.
• The consistency of the formations can be dense, soft, loose.
• On palpation, compactions may be mobile or tightly fused with surrounding tissues.
• The nipples change their anatomical configuration, increase in size, and change color.

• Upon palpation, the animal may become restless, which indicates pain.
• The seals are hot to the touch.
• In advanced cases, ulceration and tumor opening with the formation of fistulas are observed.
• When pressed, a purulent or bloody mass flows out of the nipple.
• The general condition of the dog also changes. The animal becomes lethargic, apathetic, avoids favorite games, and is reluctant to go for a walk. The dog licks often sore spot. There is a deterioration in appetite or a complete refusal to feed.

Early stages

Diagnostics

Without carrying out full spectrum diagnostic procedures the animal cannot be cured. Ordinary palpation, even if the doctor is very experienced, will never be enough to precise definition the nature of the pathology. Therefore, in case of a tumor, a biopsy is required - tissue sampling from the affected tissue and its careful histological examination.

X-rays and ultrasound are used to determine whether the tumor is metastasizing. For example, if an animal begins to limp, then an x-ray of its paw is prescribed, which will help determine whether it is affected bone cancer cells. The best option is a comprehensive diagnosis, only with its help can you determine what stage the cancer is at and what to do to stop its spread.

If your pet detects any lump, even one that seems insignificant at first glance, in the area of ​​the mammary glands, it is necessary to urgently visit a specialized clinic. The veterinarian will palpate and determine the shape, boundaries of the formation, and the presence of a reaction from the regional lymph nodes. After a clinical analysis of the history, the animal is prescribed an x-ray examination of the diseased area.

An informative diagnostic method is breast biopsy under ultrasound control followed by cytological examination of the material. Based on histological analysis, the final diagnosis is made. Magnetic resonance and computed tomography are used as an additional method for examining the mammary gland in veterinary practice.

To clarify the diagnosis, the veterinarian prescribes the following:

1. X-rays.
2. Biopsies.
3. Cytology.
4. Aspiration.

• With help X-ray examinations, in the lungs and lymph nodes metastases are detected. Ultrasound reveals tumors in the abdominal cavity.
• Breast secretions sent for microscopic analysis.
• Aspiration and cytology reveal inflammation. And these diagnostic methods also help determine the type of tumor and how sensitive it is to the effects of medications.
• The most effective and informative diagnostic method is histological analysis . It allows you to determine the nature of the detected tumor.
• The stage of pathology is determined by the size of the tumor. But the absence or presence of metastasis is also taken into account. In addition, the specialist undertakes to assess the extent of damage to nearby organs.
• If the dog is limping, it is recommended x-ray of the paw. This will help determine the presence of bone metastases.

In order to clarify the diagnosis, differential diagnosis is prescribed.

False pregnancy in a dog: prevention and treatment

Although the condition is not recognized as a disease, veterinary attention is required, especially in severe cases. False pregnancy causes psychological discomfort to the animal and can lead to diseases of the mammary glands due to stagnation of milk. For example, mastitis is possible.

Before visiting the veterinarian, try to help the animal yourself.

• You will need to switch your pet to a lower calorie diet. Reduce the amount of protein foods, eliminate dairy products. If you feed dry food, choose a lower-calorie variety (“Light”). In consultation with the doctor, decoctions of soothing herbs are given.
• If milk appears, the dog should not be allowed to suck, it is unacceptable to express - the action will become unnecessary stimulation of the mammary glands and increase milk production. If your dog frequently licks nipples and sucks milk, wear an Elizabethan collar or blanket. Try lubricating your nipples with camphor oil, alcohol or aloe juice - substances with a strong odor.
• It is necessary to take the animal out for walks more often, increase motor activity. It is necessary to change the regime, the time of walks, rearrange the bowl, change the sleeping place, distracting the pet from the experienced state and creating artificial “unfavorable conditions” that help the false pregnancy pass faster.

In many ways, the treatment of the animal following diagnosis depends on the type of course cancer. So, if the tumor is benign, then the doctor just needs to give the pet anesthesia and then simply remove it. Such operations have a high chance of a successful outcome, and the risk of disease recurrence is zero.

The owner should be aware that no matter what type of cancer their pet has, tumor removal will still involve approximately 2.5 cm of tumor removal. healthy tissue. And around the entire area of ​​the neoplasm. Surgical interventions are usually differentiated by size, location and number of tumors. Let's look at them in more detail:

1. Lumpectomy - removal of only the tumor with a rim of healthy tissue. After such an operation, the dog can still bear puppies.
2. Simple and regional mastectomy - removal of most of the affected breast.
3. One- and two-sided mastectomy - complete removal mammary glands.

If the doctor determines that the pathology has reached stage 3-4 of development, then the dog is prescribed chemotherapy. With its help, you can somewhat slow down the growth and development of cancer cells. Unfortunately, the disease in the last stage, in the presence of distant metastases, is incurable. All that remains is to improve the dog’s quality of life and eliminate the most unpleasant signs of the disease.

There is no cure for false pregnancy; it is not a disease. It is enough to simply take away all the toys from the dog, which in his mind are puppies.

But prevention of false pregnancy should begin in advance. An important measure is diet. It is necessary to reduce the portions by half and feed less often. For example, instead of twice a day, switch the bitch to one meal a day. Remove meat, fat, vegetables from the diet, limit water consumption (then milk will not be produced).

In the process of prevention, physical activity necessarily increases. Long walks will help tire the animal more, tighten the stomach (if it appears), and reduce or stop milk production.

If prevention did not help and a false pregnancy began, while acute form, be sure to consult a doctor so that the doctor prescribes hormonal therapy.

Rules of conduct for the owner during false pregnancy:

1. Don't scold the dog;
2. Distract with any activities, games, long walks, active running;
3. Do not destroy the nest - you risk provoking nervousness;
4. Limit your food intake, especially protein, reduce the amount of water;
5. Remove items that your dog may mistake for puppies from visible places;
6. Monitor the animal's reaction to lubricating the nipples with camphor to avoid an allergic reaction;
7. Do not pump or massage.

Depending on the reason, causing swelling mammary glands in a dog, the following treatment may be used.

1. Surgical – complete removal of the mammary ridge.
2. Antibiotic therapy and painkillers for mastitis.
3. Weaning puppies and using drugs that stop lactation for galactostasis and galactorrhea.
4. Sterilization – for frequent episodes of galactorrhea in a dog.

There is no clear answer to the question of whether owners should intervene. The condition of false pregnancy usually goes away on its own without any consequences, after 2-3 weeks.

To speed up the end imaginary pregnancy, you can use the following recommendations:

• - to reduce lactation (milk production), exclude all dairy products from the bitch’s diet;
• - limit water consumption (if you feed your dog dry food, translate it to natural food, because access to water will be temporarily limited);
• - reduce your usual portion of food;
• - exercise the dog physically, force it to move more (this is useful not only for normalizing its physical condition, but also for distracting it from caring for imaginary puppies);
• - do not express the collected milk - this will only stimulate its production;
• - remove all toys, avoid contact of your dog with other puppies.

Usually these measures are enough to ensure that the pseudo-pregnancy ends quickly and without consequences.

In rare cases, more serious intervention is required.

Your dog may need hormonal support (drugs containing progestogen, estrogens, androgens, prolactin antagonists). Homeopathic medicines (for example, ovariovit) have also proven themselves well. But the prescription and treatment must be carried out under the strict supervision of a specialist.

Problems with the mammary glands are also typical for such cases - mastitis (hardening of the mammary glands) may even appear. The dog's nipples should be lubricated with camphor oil (you can make compresses), and to ensure that the dog does not have free access to them, it is worth making abdominal bandages, possibly using an elastic bandage.

If your dog is susceptible to false pregnancy in such severe forms, you should think about sterilizing her. This is the most reliable and effective method prevention of false pregnancy in dogs.

Strategy qualified assistance in case of mammary gland cancer in a dog, it is largely determined by the type and form of the neoplasm, the stage of development of the pathology, age and general condition pet, involvement of lymphatic tissue in the process, the presence of metastases.

Removal via operation

The radical method of treatment is surgical removal pathological area. Mastectomy has a number of varieties. Only one half of the mammary gland ridge or the entire ridge can be excised.

The operation requires a highly qualified surgeon, professional knowledge surgical technique, knowledge of the characteristics of lymphatic drainage and compliance with the rules of antiblastics (preventing entry into surgical wound cancer cells).

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy in veterinary practice is used as additional method therapy after surgical excision of a tumor and as an independent treatment if surgery is not possible. It is not a 100% panacea; its use is associated with development severe complications from the liver and kidneys, cardiovascular system.

The mammary gland is removed. Often, regional lymph nodes are removed at the same time.

The operation is possible only if there is no chronic pathologies. Otherwise, the four-legged client is considered inoperable.

Chemotherapy

If the disease has developed to stages 3-4, then the dog is prescribed a chemotherapy course. Treatment should be systematic. This allows you to suppress the growth and division of cancer cells.

In some cases, removal of the ovaries is indicated. But there is no evidence of the effectiveness of this method yet.

Drug therapy

If distant metastases are detected, the doctor prescribes palliative therapy. This can significantly improve the pet’s quality of life. To relieve painful symptoms, the following are used:

• painkillers;
• anti-inflammatory drugs;
• antibacterial drugs.

Hormone therapy

Some veterinarians use Tamoxifen. But the effectiveness of hormonal therapy has not yet been thoroughly studied. No detailed studies have been conducted. The final conclusion will be made after additional research.

Disease prevention

It is possible to prevent false pride. It is recommended to take measures as early as the 9th day of estrus: increase physical activity pets, limit calorie intake, protein content, stop giving dairy products.

A common misconception is that if you let a bitch get pregnant and give birth once, the dog will get rid of false pregnancies in the future. The opinion is erroneous; mating and the birth of puppies do not affect the likelihood of such conditions occurring. If you do not plan to use the dog for breeding, reliable way preventing the described phenomena, especially if the disorders are severe - sterilization.

There are no special preventive recommendations to completely avoid the disease. The best solution would be to sterilize the female before her first heat, this will increase her resistance to this disease. In addition, you need to monitor the dog’s diet and hygiene, get vaccinations and deworming on time. Feel your pet's mammary glands frequently to check for tumors. Early diagnosis- This is a half-cured disease.

The owner can prevent severe pathology in a four-legged pet by following the following recommendations from veterinary specialists:

• If the animal is not purchased for breeding and does not represent breed value, the dog should be sterilized at the age of 6 months.
• Do not use hormonal drugs to control sexual behavior.
• Regularly examine the mammary glands to detect lumps.
• Visit a veterinarian every six months when the animal reaches 6 years of age.
• Promptly treat genital diseases in dogs.
• Adhere to the principle of rational nutrition, take more walks with your pet outside the city, and avoid stressful situations.

The best known way to prevent such tumors today is early sterilization of the dog. Moreover, among veterinarians there is a strong belief that sterilization before the first heat reduces the risk of disease by 15%, and before the second heat - by 25%. If the ovaries and uterus are removed later, this does not in any way affect the likelihood of the disease.

Another important thing preventive measure, which owners should not forget about is regular palpation of the animal’s mammary glands. By detecting a tumor at an early stage, you can significantly facilitate the process of subsequent treatment and increase the chances of a full recovery.

The third important tip is regular preventative examinations with a veterinarian, including ultrasound examination And clinical tests blood and urine.

Having discovered your four-legged friend treacherous nodule in the tissues of the mammary gland, do not despair. Timely treatment and further Attentive attitude to your pet's health will help you not only prolong its life by long years, but also to make existence bright, rich and fulfilling.

One of the most common postpartum complications is mastitis. Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary glands that develops both in lactating bitches and in dogs with false pregnancy. But why does it develop? this pathology, how does it manifest itself? How to cure a dog?

Causes of mastitis

1. Lactostasis is stagnation of milk. Due to the fact that the secretion of the mammary glands is not removed, it begins to compress the alveolar tissue, causing its irritation. Milk is an ideal environment for the proliferation of bacteria and fungi, so when it stagnates, microorganisms actively increase in number, leading to the development of inflammation. Lactostasis occurs due to the fact that puppies do not eat all the milk produced (little or complete absence puppies, false puppyhood).
2. Wounds, cracks in the skin of the mammary glands - all this is an additional gateway for infection. Bacteria and fungi penetrate the alveolar tissue and circulatory system through damage to the skin. That is why it is important to ensure that puppies do not scratch the mammary glands of the nursing bitch during feeding (after all, babies “trample” the gland with their paws to stimulate the production of milk).
3. Other inflammatory processes in the body, intoxication. For example, if the bitch had endometritis (inflammation of the uterus), dead puppies for a long time remained in the uterus, problems with internal organs. Bacteria quickly spread throughout the body through the bloodstream, but in order for milk to form, it must pass through the mammary gland. great amount blood. This is how infection of the alveolar tissue occurs.
4. Blockage milk duct. It is very similar to lactostasis, only with it milk is either not removed by the puppies at all, or in insufficient quantities, or is formed too quickly. If the nipple canal is blocked, it cannot be removed from the mammary gland at all.
5. Overheating or hypothermia of the animal. It is very important that the lactating bitch has comfortable living conditions.
6. Exposure of the mammary gland to aggressive chemicals.
7. Stress. It doesn't benefit anyone. Because of nervous overstrain The pet owner may notice how the dog’s mammary glands are swollen: mastitis develops.
8. Genetic predisposition. Even at the gene level, there may be a tendency to develop an inflammatory process. Therefore, if you know the facts that your beauty has had inflammation of the mammary glands in her family, it is better to sterilize your pet so that she does not suffer from mastitis.
9. Poor living conditions, dirt on the bed. The dog itself may be dirty. Always keep your pet's mammary glands and nipples clean. If necessary, rinse with warm water.
10. Endocrine diseases. Problems with hormones always provoke deterioration in health. Metabolism is disrupted, organs function worse, hair begins to fade and fall out.

Types of mastitis

Mastitis is classified according to its course: acute and chronic. In acute cases, inflammation develops very quickly, but it is easier to cure a dog with this form. Chronic mastitis is sluggish, the symptoms are more blurred, the mammary gland “degenerates,” and therapy is protracted and not always effective.

Inflammation of the mammary glands is also classified according to the nature of the exudate: pus, fibrin or mucus (catarrh). That is, most often dogs have purulent or catarrhal mastitis (often mixed with blood).

However, there are also serous (external changes in milk are extremely difficult to notice), fibrinous (in the secretion of the glands you can find dense white strands - fibrin threads), phlegmonous (the same purulent, only the pus is in subcutaneous tissue, as if spilling), abscess (abscesses appear in the inflamed lobe - ulcers surrounded by connective tissue, like a capsule) and gangrenous (gland tissues “die off” and turn black).

Symptoms of mastitis in dogs

• One of the obvious symptoms that a pet has mastitis is a swollen mammary gland in the dog. And if you touch the milk carton, it is hot, dense, and extremely painful. With lactostasis, the temperature of the skin on the swollen bag is low, however general temperature body jumps significantly above normal.
• Increased body temperature. Mastitis is an inflammation, and it is always accompanied by fever. In addition, there is severe thirst, lethargy and extremely poor appetite.
• Soreness and redness. Yet again obvious signs inflammatory process in the animal's body. An inflamed milk bag will be noticeably red, swollen, painful and hard.
• The secretion of the mammary gland changes. Milk does not always noticeably change its consistency (with serous mastitis), however, with gentle pressure, milk of a yellowish, yellow-green color with pieces of pus or admixtures of blood will be released from the nipple. Purulent mastitis is dangerous because microorganisms quickly spread through the bloodstream throughout the body, and pus can provoke sepsis. With catarrhal mastitis, the milk acquires a watery consistency, in which you can see flakes of a grayish-yellow color (sometimes brown).

Abscesses and phlegmon of milk bags are extremely dangerous, because they are purulent foci that can lead to sepsis and gangrene of the gland. The animal dies due to intoxication.

Treatment of a dog with mastitis

If you notice that your dog's mammary gland is swollen, do not try to start treatment yourself. Both lactostasis and mastitis should only be dealt with by a veterinarian. You should not try to alleviate the animal’s condition at home without qualified veterinary care. And in any case, puppies are transferred to artificial feeding, otherwise they will begin to have problems with digestion (bacteria in milk are dangerous for a fragile puppy’s body).

It will be almost impossible to cure your pet without antibiotics, but therapy must be comprehensive. We need drugs that improve the outflow of exudate. And antibiotics are ideally selected based on titration results. It is necessary to carry out bacteriological examination milk from the affected lobe, isolate the pathogen, determine its sensitivity to antibiotics of various groups.

In the initial stages, good results can be achieved with physiotherapy (two to five sessions are required). But you shouldn't try to make them at home yourself. Massages and heating during purulent inflammation are prohibited, as they lead to pus entering the blood and surrounding tissues.

Also, at the initial stage, it is possible to achieve good results thanks to the novocaine blockade. It would be a good idea to learn how to properly express milk from the affected lobe in order to remove microorganisms and the ideal environment for their reproduction - milk - from the inflamed bag.

In addition, pumping will reduce pressure on damaged alveolar tissue and reduce pain. However, it is worth remembering that after expressing the milk comes again, so you will have to carry out this procedure repeatedly or immediately after emptying the gland, bandage it tightly.

If physiotherapy does not help, the veterinarian will prescribe antibiotic therapy and vitamin therapy. In more complex cases it is also necessary surgical intervention. The pustules are opened, washed and covered with powdered antibiotics.

Prevention of mastitis

• What needs to be done to prevent the dog’s mammary gland from becoming swollen and developing lactostasis and mastitis? First of all, after whelping, take your pet to the veterinarian. He must check that the animal does not have postpartum complications. Indeed, due to hidden inflammatory processes, mastitis can develop.
• Be sure to clean the bed, the nurse’s resting place. Wash her tummy, milk bags and nipples. Make sure there are no wounds or cracks on them. If you find it, process it immediately and observe.
• Trim puppies' nails. These little ones have claws like needles - very sharp. Therefore, babies can scratch a nursing bitch, thereby opening the gates of infection.
• If the bitch has had stillborn puppies, then you need to see a veterinarian. Antibiotic therapy will probably be prescribed to avoid inflammatory processes in the body, and detoxification.
• If the dog had false pregnancy or a large influx of milk that the puppies cannot cope with (either there are too few of them, or none at all, or they eat little), then you need to think about suppressing lactation. While it is easier to deal with false pregnancy (special medications are given, the glands are tightly ligated), then if you have puppies, such methods are not suitable. Review your diet, remove all dairy products (this includes soups, liquid cereals, dairy products, wet food and meat), reduce the amount of liquid consumed.
• Don't forget about your hygiene. Your dirty hands or clothes can lead to inflammation, because after feeding the puppies, the nipple canal will remain open for another half hour to an hour. And bacteria from your hands will easily penetrate the gland.
• Don’t forget about washing the floors, just watch what you use. Remember that household chemicals will also harm your dog’s health.

This phenomenon is quite common, and is most typical for females who have not yet given birth and for those who were mated once, and as a result there was no pregnancy. False puppyhood manifests itself in dogs in that the animal behaves as if it is expecting offspring, although in fact this is not the case. In such anxious state the pet needs especially careful care and affection from the owner, and sometimes professional help.

Does your dog have swollen mammary glands? What is the reason? We'll figure out.

Some time after the estrus, the pet begins to show all the signs of pregnancy, although in reality there is no trace of this.

False pregnancy cannot be considered a disease, anomaly or some kind of pathology. It is associated with hormonal imbalance after estrus. The fact is that in a dog’s body, even if fertilization has not taken place, the same hormones are produced as in pregnant individuals: prolactin increases, and progesterone decreases, which causes all the symptoms of false pregnancy.

Signs of this condition in females are divided into psychological and physiological. The animal’s tummy enlarges and sags, the mammary glands enlarge, the animal begins to build a “nest” from rags, pieces of paper, etc., most often in a quiet corner. At this time, the female demonstrates maternal affection towards various things: toys, shoes, etc. She becomes restless, nervous, inactive, unplayful, and fussy. The animal begins to fawn heavily on its owner, becomes intrusive and too sociable. Shows open aggression towards other females. The pet can sit for a long time in her “nest” with toys (which act as puppies) and respond very fiercely to any attempts to lure her out and take the “children”.

The estrous cycle of dogs has several phases: proestrus - before estrus (eggs are just forming), estrus - coincides with estrus, metaestrus - the end of the sexual “hunt” (regression of the “corpus luteum” occurs if pregnancy does not occur) and anestrus - sexual behavior is absent or shows little.

To do this, the pet's walking regimen and menu are adjusted starting from the ninth day until the end of the heat. The volume of drinking and eating is reduced, dairy and meat products are excluded and increased physical activity. These measures significantly reduce or help avoid false pregnancies.

It is precisely because of the “corpus luteum,” or rather its regression, that false pregnancy sets in: the production of the pregnancy hormone, progesterone, begins. Unlike other animals, the “corpus luteum” does not disappear in dogs for another 60 days, despite the absence of actual pregnancy. The female's body receives a "warning" that it needs to prepare for the birth of the cubs. By the time the female is supposed to give birth, the body rapidly produces prolactin, which leads to the appearance of milk. So it turns out that a dog’s mammary glands swell after estrus. Milk may even appear. Plus, there may be a change eating behavior: the animal begins to consume more food and drink or, conversely, refuses food.

In situations where false puppiness is severe, apathy is added to the symptoms described above. In such a situation, you cannot do without professional help. Hormonal therapy is often used for treatment, but this is fraught with a large number of side effects, which poses a great danger to the animal!

To prevent this from happening to your pet at all, many veterinarians advise sterilizing dogs; usually this really helps (naturally, in the case when the pet’s “tubes” are not “ligated”, but the reproductive organ is removed).

If the owner does not want to sterilize the animal, then you can try to reduce the manifestations of false pregnancy.

You should not be mistaken and believe that a one-time mating and childbirth will save your pet from the occurrence of false pregnancy in the future. In most cases, this only makes the problem worse. There is no need to drag your feet and torment the animal; it is better to make a decision right away.

The best alternative in such cases is to use homeopathic medicines, but for each pet they select special means and be sure to discuss such treatment with your veterinarian.

Another problem that can arise due to a false pregnancy is inflammation of the mammary glands. In dogs, milk accumulates in them at this time, which is why mastitis develops. In addition, pyometra may develop in the uterus due to the accumulation of excess mucus ( purulent inflammation) . This disease is very dangerous, the mortality rate in these cases is very high and can only be treated by sterilization. For this reason, you need to immediately decide for yourself whether you plan to breed puppies in the future or not; if not, then it is easier to immediately castrate the animal to avoid possible problems with health!

If a dog experiences a false pregnancy, under no circumstances should it be punished or scolded for odd behavior, because it is not responsible for itself, it’s all about hormones. You should be more lenient and patient.

You should know that if the animal produces milk during this period, it is not expressed. The dog itself should also not be allowed to suck it out (in these cases, a veterinary blanket is put on), because the mammary glands in dogs in such cases easily become inflamed. In such a situation, the pet is always carefully monitored, because it is easier to prevent complications than to treat them. Moreover, mastitis in females is not something to joke about.

During such a difficult period for the animal, professional consultation with a veterinarian is necessary.

Such a condition in an animal should not be left to chance, it is fraught dangerous diseases mammary glands and reproductive organs. It is better not to tempt fate and sterilize your pet, especially if mating and the birth of puppies are, in principle, not planned.

Girls, please tell me, my dog’s breasts are swollen... very swollen... This is pregnancy

Or is there a possibility that it was just a hormonal imbalance? Some time ago, we had to give our girl to a friend for foster care for 2 weeks, because we ourselves were leaving. An acquaintance breeds dogs + he has paid foster care and I was attracted by the fact that he has a Cane Corso (I also have this breed), he knows how to treat them. The dog was going into heat, a friend was told about it and he isolated it from the other dogs. The time came, we picked her up, put her in the car and while we went to get her toys and bowls, she somehow opened the car and jumped over the fence to the walking dogs, I think she walked for about 15-20 minutes (knowing her character, I think that she broke free as soon as we left). I really hoped and hope that she didn’t do anything. When we saw her, she was simply running with them, although, it seems to me, she was very happy. Then I went with my daughter to my relatives, and when my son wrote tests at school, my husband immediately brought him and the dog to me. The dog’s swollen chest immediately caught my eye. After her first heat, her breasts were swollen, but it seems to me that not as much as now. And it gets bigger and bigger every day. I can’t get to the vet until the rains stop, because there is simply no road, instead of a road there is a swamp. I will be able to leave if there is no rain for 5-7 days, but it rains every day. The dog’s belly has not increased much, but it has sagged, I touched it - no one is moving there, the chest is increasing, in character, mobility - it is the same as before, it has actually begun to drink and pee more than usual. Is there a chance that the dog is not pregnant after all? Or most likely she got pregnant? Like the law of meanness, upon returning home we had to sterilize her, we wanted to before she went into heat, but good doctor there were no places, then he was on vacation.

If the dog is pregnant, then what should you do with the puppies? How to distribute them, who needs them, where to look for owners? There might be such a mixture... Our girl was running around in a pen with a shepherd dog, a sharpei, a rottweiler (sort of), there was also some big, big shaggy light dog, a husky (or something similar to it), a mongrel, etc. There was a curly-haired dog, not particularly small in size (I forgot the breed, but they still cut her backside, and her front and part of her legs were curly). There was also some long-legged tall dog, I don’t know the breed. Well, there were also a couple of dogs running around, I don’t remember which ones exactly. Well, there was a Cane Corso running around there, but he was not an adult.

I trust my friend, I don’t think he let the girls and boys go out together. He has the girls separately, the boys live separately and go for walks, aggressive ones separately, small ones with large ones separately... In the fall, we already left him a dog, she went into heat in the foster home, everything was fine, without consequences.