The affected mammary gland may appear dark purple or black in color, as the tissues begin to die off due to overwhelming infection and decreased blood supply. Affected dogs may become lethargic, develop a fever, refuse to eat, or begin vomiting as the infection enters the bloodstream and they develop signs of sepsis.
Change in Nipples
A change in a dog's nipples is among the most typical indicators that the animal is pregnant. Usually, two to three weeks after conception, this shift is visible. The nipples may look slightly larger, pinker, and deeper in color than usual, especially those nearest to the dog's hind legs.
Enlarged or Discolored Nipples
You may also notice your dog's nipples turning a slightly darker red than normal, which would indicate an increase in blood flow. Later into the pregnancy, her nipples may occasionally leak milk, as well.
There are a few breeds that get what are called “Cow Spots” on their skin and as you said it is just a matter of pigmentation as in people! It is nothing to be concerned with, But if you do have concern always check with your vet!
Signs of a problem tend to include swelling, redness, an obvious lump, or discharge from the nipple. Most mammary problems can be treated, but left without veterinary help, can get worse and become harder to treat. Contact your vet if your dog has a mammary problem.
Swollen nipples in dogs is a common sign seen in mastitis. Mastitis occurs when there is an infection of the mammary glands. Mastitis can occur in female dogs who are in the process of nursing. In mastitis, the dog's mammary glands become swollen and painful.
Nipples look similar in both male and female dogs unless a female is in heat or nursing, in which case they swell. Nipples appear as small bumps that resemble pimples or bug bites. They can be the same color as your dog's skin or pigmented from pink to black.
Warts – Canine viral papilloma, also known as dog warts, are one of the most common causes of small lumps in dogs. They are generally raised and look like small pale cauliflower bumps. Most warts are pale in color although, when infected or traumatized, many will appear dark from the inflammation or blood.
Dog nipples are usually larger and more pronounced than the small bumps you find on spayed females. Dog nipples range in color from pink to black, depending on your dog's breed and coloration.
The fall of progesterone triggers a rise in prolactin, a mammary-stimulating hormone. It's normal for dogs at this stage to have swollen nipples, even when there is no pregnancy.
Nesting or the nesting instinct is typically defined as the motherly drive of a pregnant dog to prepare a safe location to have her puppies. That can mean dragging blankets to a new place, rearranging pillows, or squirreling away some laundry to lie on at the back of a closet.
Human Pregnancy Tests
Note that you cannot use a human pregnancy test to see if your dog is pregnant. A human pregnancy test and a dog pregnancy test aim to detect different hormones. There are no urine tests available to check a dog's pregnancy.
A nursing mother will have more pronounced nipples than a female without a littler or a male dog, but in general, nipples are small, round bumps that appear in a line from your dog's sheath up his stomach. Nipples can be pigmented or the color of your dog's skin –- both are considered normal.
Sepsis is an infection which overwhelms the body, resulting in severe inflammation. Without treatment, it can escalate into Septic Shock, causing multi-organ failure (kidneys, lungs, liver). This condition normally occurs when a severe infection is not treated adequately or timely.
A phantom pregnancy in a dog can last anywhere from a week to a month.
Mastitis usually only affects 1 breast, and symptoms often come on quickly. They include: a swollen area on your breast that may feel hot and painful to touch – the area may become red but this can be harder to see if you have black or brown skin. a wedge-shaped breast lump or a hard area on your breast.
Malignant melanomas look like raised lumps, often ulcerated, and can also look like gray or pink lumps in the mouth. Nail bed malignant melanomas, on the other hand, show up as toe swelling and possibly even loss of the toenail itself and destruction of underlying bone.
Canine melanomas are tumours involving cells that give pigment to the skin. They can be benign or malignant and appear as dark lumps on the skin that grow slowly. More aggressive tumours grow on the mouth and legs. They have to be removed but they can recur.
Papillomas most commonly occur on the face, lips, extremities, and within the oral cavity. These warts are generally small in appearance and pale to pink in color. They tend to be cauliflower-like and may enlarge and become darker over time.
Signs a Female Is in Heat
Think of it as the doggie equivalent of PMS. Swollen nipples - Sometimes, but not always, the nipples and breasts will swell slightly. This can also be a sign of a phantom pregnancy, when a female may begin to show signs of being pregnant even if she's not.
The most common clinical sign of a malignant mammary tumor is one (or more) palpable masses underneath the skin of the abdomen. They may be next to or within the nipple and follow along the mammary chain (see illustration). The size of the mass(es) and their appearance may vary, but they are usually firm and nodular.
Pregnancy
Perhaps the most obvious reason that a female dog's nipples grow bigger after being in heat is just that she is pregnant. About 3 weeks after conception, a dog's nipples will start to become larger and they may also change color.