Buddy the male Staffy had enlarged nipples!

She listened carefully to what I had to say while stroking her 2 extremely content rescues as they slept on the soft grey sofa on either side of her. A picture of pure peace and I remember finishing the teleconsult and thinking just how incredibly lucky those 2 dogs were. They suffered from skin issues and their Mum was not only feeding them a vegan diet to benefit their health, but she had also chosen now to feed both a wholefood homemade diet…..no small feat as Drake was a rescue Great Dane weighing in at 62kgs who would need daily meals cooked for him. Her dedication to her dogs was so inspiring.

She contacted me not long after, with a completely different query. She booked a second teleconsult as Buddy’s nipples had enlarged considerably…and he was a neutered male. I had seen this before in practice, and I encouraged her to have his thyroid checked in case it was a problem with his thyroid being underactive. I asked if she fed a lot of soya as I really was not quite sure. She took him to her own vet who ran the blood test and everything was fine, her vet also couldn’t explain about the enlarged nipples and no, she was not feeding soya in her homemade recipes.

I sought advice from another vet who specialises in lumps and she too was not sure. I was about to reply to Buddy’s Mum that she wasn’t to worry as long as he was well, until she mentioned that Drake the Great Dane also had enlarged nipples! My mind then returned straight to that teleconsult with both her dogs being lovingly stroked and constantly in her presence on the sofa, and I realised that the only thing that could possibly be causing this on both dogs, but in Buddy in particular; was an oestrogen overdose.

I gently asked Buddy’s Mum if anyone in the home was using any form of hrt treatment or cream and she replied with this e-mail that she is happy to share to avoid it happening to any other dogs –

“You have solved the mystery but I am totally devastated that I am the cause of Buddy and Drake’s oestrogen poisoning. I apply the cream on my inner forearms morning and night for the menopause. I am literally killing them by hugging them, it’s the last thing I thought it would be. Buddy has major hair loss and dragging his bum on the floor and this is not to do with this anal glands, his nipples are massive. I found Buddy’s personality had changed, he was more fearful in situations that previously wouldn’t bother him. I just want him to get back to his old self. Drake has enlarged nipples but no other symptoms. How can I reverse this?  I will stop using the cream and wash everything I have touched. I feel so responsible for this, couldn’t sleep.”