My Yorkies first time in heat.

Question
QUESTION: My yorkie recently went into her first heat cycle. It is over now. I have noticed that her nipples' are fuller, almost like they are swollen. I did not breed her, so i know they should not be filling with milk. When i was a child my parents had a dog that we bred but it was too long ago for me to remember if the same thing happened to her. I want to know if this is normal, or if i should be worried.

ANSWER: Hi Summerlin! If you're 100% sure that there's no way she could've been bred accidentally, then she may be having a false pregnancy. A dog that is going through this may show signs that she is indeed pregnant. It can be very frustrating for the dog and owner. You may want to talk to your vet and see if he can offer you any options. One thing that he will most likely bring up is if you aren't ever going to breed her, the best thing to do to cure false pregnancies is to spay her. If a dog has a bout with one episode, then she's more than likely to keep having them. Watch her breasts to make sure that she doesn't get an infection in them. Some dogs experiencing this may actually produce milk. Good luck, and if I can be of anymore help, feel free to write!

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QUESTION: What should I watch out for as far as infections go? How can i tell if she does get an infection? Thank you for your response to my previous question. I have never even heard of a  false pregnancy. You really do learn something new every day!

Answer
Hi! Well, if her breasts get infected, they may have a hard, warm spot on them. If she's putting out any milk, it may be discolored, or even bloody. If you notice any of this at any time, take her to your vet. He'll give her some antibiotics that should clear it right up. The sooner you get it taken care of, the better her chances are that it won't become really serious. I'm not saying she will get one, but just to watch out for it. Especially if she's trying to produce milk. Also, watch her vulva. If she should get a tomato soup like discharge, take her staight in to the vet.

No problem! Glad I could help. If you ever need anything else, feel free to holler! And I completely agree with you. You do learn something new everyday (I do!). That's the fun of it.:-)