My dog's mammary gland is swollen after heat. How long does it last?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 8 years and 5 months old | 4 lbs
She recently just got out of heat but had swelling around one of her mammary glands. You can only feel it when you rub across it but when you kinda squeeze to inspect it or feel for lumps it feels normally. It seems to be shrinking & I took her to the vet 2 times & they both said it's most likely hormonal & they didn't feel anything bad. How long should it take for it to go down? Is my description how mammary swelling feels? I'm going to get her spayed in September.
4 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on July 7th, 2017
This swelling is probably a hormonal response to being in heat. As long as she still has hormones in her system the swelling will remain. Since your vet did not feel like it was anything significant, it is probably fine. It will eventually go away on its own and if not it will certainly go away when you spay her. If you feel like the swelling is getting larger or starts to feel firm or painful than I would be concerned. Otherwise it is just a side effect of her being in heat.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on July 22nd, 2018
Hello, sorry to hear about Porscha. It sounds like she is undergoing an episode of false pregnancy. This happens occasionally in dogs that undergo a heat cycle and don't become pregnant. This should resolve on its own within a couple of weeks, however, if she is not getting better or if she develops any discharge or pain, then she should be evaluated immediately. Hope this helps and best of luck.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on November 16th, 2019
I think this may be related to the heat cycle, swelling of the mammary gland and fatty tissue related to it could be completely normal and it could take a while to get back to normal. A check up would be needed anyway to confirm this suspicion, but at this stage it does not look like a life threatening condition or a concerning one.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on July 22nd, 2017
I would be concerned about possible mastitis. If she is currently in heat the mammary glands can swelling due to increase in her hormones. IF she is not painful or having any discharge I would not be concerned. Also fatty tumors can form on the mammary chain. IF at any time the area is red, painful or warm to touch I would recommend taking her to the vet to determine if she has mastitis.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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