Diagnosis or Cure

Question
My dog Rage, a blue nose pitbull has developed a large amount of swelling on her upper right breast. Its firm and doesn't seem to bother her. Shes about 8 yrs old and has irregular panting. When she lays down she shivers as if she was cold or has a fever. I would like know what can cause this. Another thing i'm concerned about is she has a grape sized blood blister on her right inner back leg where the skin attaches her breast to her stomach. I would also like to know how that's caused and if it has anything to do with the swelling of her right front breast.

Answer
If you read my profile you can see I am not a vet and don't diagnose anything, but I can give you an idea of what it might be. Only a vet can tell you for sure.

Your dog is eight and is she spayed? Grapes size or large swellings around the teats are generally mammary cancers which can and will spread to the lungs, just like breast cancer does in humans if they are not removed and left for a long time.

If she isn't spayed, she needs to go now. Your vet is best qualified to feel these tumors and look at them and diagnose what they are.

Even if she is spayed, but was spayed after the age of 4 there is a good chance that's what these are.

Here is a photo of what they can look like:

http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/images/oncology/mammary_tumor/mammary.jpg

that is a picture of a dog on a surgery table having hers removed.