False pregnancy in dogs: signs, treatment.

“The dog wants puppies, it’s time for her to give birth, it is necessary to give birth several times” – what only you will not hear from the owners of four-legged pets, faced with such a phenomenon as false pregnancy in dogs. It occurs regardless of the breed of the animal, although there is a version that small dogs suffer from it more often. This condition is also called phantom, imaginary or pseudo-pregnancy, and false puppyhood. In the past, owners tried their best (and more often unsuccessfully) to divert the pet’s attention from this problem, but now there are modern and effective ways to stabilize its condition.

Why does false pregnancy in dogs occur?

Hormones are to blame. Whether a dog is pregnant or not, progesterone influences mammary gland development and weight gain. When its concentrations drop at the end of diestrus, there is a sharp increase in prolactin. Behavioral and physiological changes characteristic of pregnancy appear, while there are no embryos in the uterus. This disorder can occur for a variety of reasons:

• inflammatory processes
• uterine neoplasms, ovarian cysts death and resorption of embryos at a young gestation period
• endocrine diseases
• unsuccessful mating due to reproductive dysfunction in the male
• mating during the last days of heat
• mating with a spayed or neutered animal
• severe stress
• unstable psyche

Close contact with a pregnant or lactating female can also trigger false puberty.

How does false pregnancy manifest itself?

Symptoms of false pregnancy in dogs begin with a change in behavior. The pet chooses a quiet, secluded corner and “builds a nest” of soft things – blankets, socks, sweaters, slippers and soft toys. The behavior of the animal also changes, affection alternates with aggression or an attempt to seclude. After a while, physiological changes appear, which are often characteristic of a real pregnancy:

• increased abdomen and weight (with normal diet)
• stiff movements
• swollen, enlarged hinge
• sometimes ointment discharge from the vagina
• nausea, vomiting
• swollen mammary glands, change in their coloring
• nipple discharge

Appetite, as well as mood, can vary from increased to complete absence. But the dog drinks water a lot and often.

The deceptive approach of labor causes anxiety in the animal. It breathes heavily, does not want to go for walks and whines. There may be contractions of the abdominal wall, as in labor contractions.

After a while, the dog shows concern for some soft toy, perceiving it as a puppy. Some pets show maternal aggression, growling, snapping and even biting.

How long does false puppyhood last?

Changes in the mental and physiological state in dogs with false pregnancies occur 4-9 weeks after heat. The duration can vary, but usually varies between 2-4 weeks. In case of complications, longer.

False pregnancies occur in dogs whether they have given birth or not, given birth once or repeatedly. So don’t believe the myth that a dog needs to give birth once and everything will go away like magic.

How can I tell a real pregnancy from a false pregnancy?

Pseudo-pregnancy is difficult for a dog owner to distinguish from a real pregnancy. This can be done by a veterinarian after an examination: ultrasound or blood tests.

False puppyhood can be suspected by the following signs:

• If the dog is pregnant, it starts to organize the “nest” just a few days before the birth. But the false state makes him do it practically from the first signs and lasts until the normalization of hormonal background.
• In pseudo-pregnancy, the body temperature does not rise, but in real pregnancy, there are spikes a week before delivery.
• In a real pregnancy, the hair around the nipples is usually thinned, unlike a false pregnancy.
• A truly pregnant dog is not looking to replace puppies with toys or other objects. She is simply not interested in them in that capacity.

What is the danger of false puppyhood for a dog?

If we talk about the condition itself, then in general it does not carry danger, while the consequences can be very severe. They are related both to mental abnormalities, when the animal fiercely defends the cub toy or object, attacking the owner and other pets, and to problems with the health of the body:

• pyometra
• mastitis
• endometritis
• tumors of the uterus, ovaries or mammary glands
• central nervous system disorders that may be irreversible

Pyometra and endometritis are inflammatory processes in the uterus. In the first case, pus accumulates in the uterus, and in the second case, its mucous membrane becomes inflamed. Mastitis is characterized by inflammation of the mammary glands, in which the nipples are thickened, the temperature rises.

What should you do if your dog has a false pregnancy?

The ideal option is to consult a veterinarian. There are now veterinary remedies against false puppyhood and pregnancy on the market that can reduce their signs. In some cases, the specialist resorts to the use of prolactin inhibitors, which can be accompanied by side effects and is therefore only carried out under the supervision of a veterinarian. However, it must first be ensured that the pregnancy is not a real pregnancy. Other measures are suggested:

• spend more time distracting your pet with play and increased exercise
• do not let the dog build a “nest”, hide things suitable for this (but do not destroy it if the animal manages to steal something).
• hide toys and objects (more often slippers) that she can choose as cubs, protecting and caring for them (if not removed in time, do not take away by force)
• wear a popon or Elizabethan collar to avoid licking the lactating glands
• daily feed ration reduced by 25% for a few days
• from dry food it is better to favor light, low-calorie diets (Light).
• reduce the amount of meat in natural feeding
• if dairy products have been in the diet, temporarily eliminate them.

The issue of destroying the “nest” and taking away objects that the dog is nursing is highly controversial. Some argue that such actions will lead to more psychological problems. Others – on the contrary, believe that the lack of positive feedback (since toys do not respond to its signals), literally drive the dog crazy, so toys should be hidden until the pet sees it. The best option will be suggested by a veterinarian or zoopsychologist after examining the pet and gathering information on its behavior that the owner will provide.

Never apply compresses to the mammary glands, either cold or hot. If milk is flowing from them, do not decant to stimulate a steady flow. Mastitis (milk stagnation) can only be avoided with medication prescribed by a veterinarian.

A specialist may prescribe based on the results of the examination:

• for hormonal disorders – hormone medications
• in case of restless behavior – sedatives
• for complications with reproductive organs – antibiotics and other medicines
• for health maintenance – vitamins and minerals

Preparations for pseudo-pregnancy

• Vet Expert ProlactiNO is a dietary supplement containing Vitex extract, which delays the release of prolactin; parsley extract with diuretic action; dandelion leaf extract with diuretic properties; escin (from horse chestnut) with anti-edema properties. In general, the drug helps to alleviate the symptoms of false pregnancy.
• BioTestLab’s Antilact is an oral solution for eliminating signs of pseudo-pregnancy, as well as for stopping lactation.

Prevention

If we talk about a guaranteed effective way to avoid false pregnancy in dogs, it is sterilization. It is recommended even for animals involved in breeding, if this condition recurs frequently. In order to prevent the syndrome from persisting, the sterilization procedure is performed no sooner than 4 months after heat, when any behavioral or physiological signs of false puppyhood are completely absent.

Тема 2025: комфорт і турбота про улюбленців.