Is a vet visit in order?
Hello everyone I have a 10 year old rottweiler that has a pretty swollen teat. Only one of them but it's fairly swollen, seems to have a little blood on it and it's lactating a white substance. She's an inside dog and never goes outside unsupervised. She had pups about 6 years ago and is not spayed but there's no risk of pregnancy. We recently had an outbreak of fleas that is getting under control. I'm very worried it may be mastitis or cancer,but could it be an injury from scratching? I put some dog antibiotic spray on the area and it seems like it's sensitive for her. Any ideas? She also seems to have lost some appetite.
To answer your question, yes, a vet visit is in order. Imagine finding a lump in your breast, the only way to know for sure what it is is to do a fine needle aspiration. I would suggest having that done, it is quick, not prohibitively expensive and it tells you what you're dealing with. Being not spayed and older, she's at a higher risk for cancer so you want to put your mind at ease and rule that out. It could just be an infection, but you will likely never know what you're dealing with until you get it analyzed through fine needle aspirate.
If she is lactating without it being a unnatural color it's likely not to be mammary cancer. Although it can't be ruled out, since once a female dog has a pregnancy her risk of developing mammary cancer goes up to 25%. As opposed to 0-3% for a dog spayed before her first heat or pregnancy.
Mastitis implies infection, with the mammary gland swollen, possibly red, and possibly sore or warm to the touch for the dog. It could easily be accompanied by a temperature outside the normal range of 100-102.5.
Abnormal lactation is triggered in humans, and dogs alike by abnormal high prolactin levels. Either through direct stimulation of the mammary gland, or potential pituitary cancer.
So yes, you need to get the dog to a Vet to find the root cause.
Thank you very much ill schedule a vet visit in the morning. Is there anything I should do in the meantime to help? Will Cleaning the area and antibiotic sprays hurt until she gets to the vet?
Turns out it was a localized infection from her scratching the teat open. She will be fine just need to keep it nice and clean and apply antibiotics to the area. it was really my fault for not keeping her toenails trimmed but other than that she's a healthy girl 
thank you all for the help.
The best case scenario.
Quote from magicmed on April 14, 2022, 3:24 pmTurns out it was a localized infection from her scratching the teat open. She will be fine just need to keep it nice and clean and apply antibiotics to the area. it was really my fault for not keeping her toenails trimmed but other than that she's a healthy girl
thank you all for the help.
Glad to hear it was an easy fix! The antibiotics should clear it up nicely.
Yes I am very happy we got so lucky, I was freaking out for a day there. I've had her since she was 5 and a half weeks old, she's my pup.