My young Ridgeback bitch is having a phantom pregnancy after her season. It's been going on for some time - just slightly enlarged mammary glands, no behavioural issues, so I haven't worried, just kept an eye on her, and reduced her food a bit and kept her well exercised (all my dogs are well exercised anyway :) )

This morning I noticed that one of her glands had got rather firm/hard - not hot though, or painful for her. She's full of beans, playing and eating fine, so again, I'm not panicking and rushing off to the vet - yet. If she seems at all unwell, I will contact the vet immediately of course.

I have held a hot towel to the gland and massaged it. This has reduced the hardness - the gland is now soft. And whilst I was doing this, greenish tinged, slightly sticky milk came out from the nipple, as I had expected. No bloody tinge to it at all. She was quite happy with me doing this, apart from getting a bit bored, it didn't appear to be at all painful for her. She's had a chewy afterwards and is now fast asleep. I will check her again in a while and repeat the process as necessary.

Just wondering if anyone had any other tips - it's a while since I had a girl with this.

The green colour would seem to indicate some infection, so a trip to the vets if otherwise well on Tuesday as she may need some AB's to knock it on the head.

It is best to not stimulate the milk flow, if at all possible, as you dont want more milk to come & as suggested go to vets on Tuesday. You can give things (herbal) to prevent this the next time, if not having a litter/getting spayed.

I'll keep a close eye on her, of course. Have to pop to the vet's anyway on Tuesday with my older Aussie (13 1/2)- her breathing has got a bit laboured and she's going in for investigations. Think it might be her larynx :(

I am hoping to breed from her in due course, Lexy. She's a gorgeous girl, sired by my Finnish import, with a superb temperament. She's doing really well in the ring too. But we've got health tests to pass first, and have to see how she matures as she's only just coming up for 13 months. I've already got a "husband" in mind - a lovely lad going back to my own lines :)

Just an update ...

I massaged the gland a couple more times yesterday and got rid of any lumpy bits. Today it seems to be completely back to normal - phew! I will keep an eye on it of course, and if there is a relapse or if she seems at all unhappy or unwell, I will take her straight to the vet.