Male dogs have nipples


We’ve all been there before. 
We’re giving our dog a belly and all of a sudden we feel a bump and our hearts stop. 
Is that a tick? 
It’s raised, black on the top, skin color on the bottom.
So we grab our tweezers, dig through the fur again and start to try and extract the tick. 
As we pull up our dog gives us the side-eye, some dogs may wince. 
The tick isn’t budging. It’s stuck in their good.
Another grab with the tweezers and our dog whips his head around in complete shock. 
What the hell is this thing attached to my dog’s stomach? 
Well, there’s no easy way to say this:
It’s a nipple and your male dog has a few of them and they’re supposed to be there so put the tweezers down.
Do Male Dogs Have Nipples?
Yes, male dogs have nipples just like most mammals both female and male have nipples.
What Do Nipples Look Like On A Dog?
Most male dogs will have nipples that are either black or the color of their skin. 
Nipples on a male dog are small, round bumps. They are usually located from the groin area and up to the middle of their stomach on both sides. 
The amount of nipples that a male dog can have varies but it usually around 8 to 10
Size of the nipple will often be determined by the size of a dog. A Newfie will have a bigger nipple than a chihuahua. Report this ad
Why Do Male Dogs Have Nipples?
Nipples on a male dog do not serve a purpose. 
Science believes that it’s part of the natural selection process and basically the nipples on male mammals were overlooked. 
Female and male mammals both have nipples in utero and they don’t get selected out like other features do because there is no advantage or disadvantage of a male having them.
Can Nipples On A Male Dog Cause Any Health Issues?
It is not common that a male dog will see any health issues related to their nipples but in rare cases, they can suffer from a condition called mastitis
Mastitis occurs when there is an infection of the mammary glands and the nipples become swollen. It is more commonly seen in female dogs but it can be just as dangerous if seen in a male dog.
Signs of mastitis are often swollen nipples, discharge from the nipple, discoloration, lethargy, weight loss, pain, and fever. 
A veterinarian should be contacted immediately if mastitis is suspected as the condition can be fatal if left untreated.

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