femal st. bernard

Question
I have a St. Bernard. She is about 1yr. 6mos. She went into heat for the first time last summer.  I think that she is in heat again , But I am not sure this time her feeding nipples are all swollen and hanging pretty low, Is this part of her being in heat or did she become pregnant without us knowing?

Answer

Hi Teri,

The nipples on a female who has not yet had her first heat are quite small, but they swell with the first heat and never return to "puppy size". If a female dog has been bred and is pregnant, then about 35 days after the mating the nipples will turn a deep pink color and will begin to enlarge.

Hopefully, your dog isn't going to be having any unwanted pregnancies! Spaying your dog will ensure it, and also give your dog some health benefits such as completely eliminating any chance of ovarian and uterine cancers, and will greatly reduce the chance of mammary/breast cancer. It also eliminates the chance of pyometra - a uterine infection that can be fatal.

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,

Patti