If you’ve ever had a female dog experiencing a false pregnancy (also known as phantom pregnancy or pseudopregnancy), you’ve probably been quite worried before finding out what was really happening. Especially if you know for certain your dog hasn’t been around any male dogs!
However, you should know that false pregnancy is relatively common in unspayed female dogs. Understanding this condition will help us address the problem quickly and, usually, quite easily. So…
What Is False Pregnancy in Dogs?
In simple terms, it’s a condition that occurs when hormones produced during heat (estrus) modify your dog’s behavior and physiology in such a way that she appears to be pregnant without actually being pregnant.
In other words, we see physical and mental changes typical of a pregnant female dog.
Let’s explain this a bit more technically, though without getting too complex.
When a female dog goes into heat, her ovaries begin producing hormones. These hormones, among other things, prepare the uterus for pregnancy. If the dog is pregnant, these hormones will continue to be produced until shortly before the puppies are born. However, if she’s not pregnant, the levels of these hormones will decrease after approximately 5 weeks.
When these hormones decrease in a non-pregnant female, other substances send signals to the body, which sometimes end up stimulating a false labor and the development of mammary glands.
It’s during this period when changes similar to those occurring during a real pregnancy can take place.
Usually, these changes disappear on their own over time, but if they don’t, you’ll need to visit your veterinarian to find a solution to the problem.
Other Causes of False Pregnancy Not Related to Heat
As we’ve just seen, false pregnancy is a hormone-related issue. Therefore, diseases that increase the synthesis (formation) of these molecules can produce the same signs.
This is one of the reasons why visiting the veterinarian is so important. The diagnostic tests they perform will help differentiate between “normal” (non-pathological) false pregnancy and that produced by diseases.
Among these conditions, although there are more, we find mammary tumors and hypothyroidism.
How Do I Know If My Dog Has False Pregnancy?
The signs of false pregnancy in dogs are so similar to those of a real pregnancy that often they can’t be differentiated without additional testing.
However, sometimes you can tell just from the animal’s history.
For example, if you’re absolutely certain (100%) that your dog hasn’t been in contact with any males, it definitely won’t be a real pregnancy.
In a dog with false pregnancy, we can observe the following changes.
Behavioral Changes
These vary widely between dogs. As you’ll see, distinguishing it from a real pregnancy can be very challenging.
- Anxiety and agitation, often accompanied by whining
- Depression
- Nesting behavior – your dog prepares a “nest” where she would keep her puppies safe. Sometimes, related to this behavior, dogs start digging holes
- Object adoption – exactly as it sounds. Some dogs adopt toys and treat them… as if they were their own puppies!
- Aggression – some dogs become very aggressive towards their owners or other pets in the house
Physical Changes
- Increased vaginal discharge (which will be mucous-like)
- Vomiting
- Lethargy (you’ll notice your dog doesn’t want to play or move much)
- Weight changes – Some dogs gain weight because they eat more, while others lose weight due to decreased appetite. Others maintain their normal weight
- Mammary changes – The mammary glands become larger and may produce a milky secretion (though sometimes it’s more water-like)
- Abdominal distention
How Is False Pregnancy Diagnosed?
The first thing you should do if you think your dog has false pregnancy is visit a veterinarian.
The more information you can provide, the better. These days, it’s incredibly helpful to record your pet with your mobile phone and show it to your trusted veterinarian. For example, seeing nesting behavior provides valuable information that can’t be observed in the clinic.
Besides the information you can provide, keep in mind that a series of laboratory tests are needed to rule out other possibilities, including serious diseases that, as we’ve seen, could produce changes similar to false pregnancy. Thus, blood and urine tests are usually performed.
However, to truly confirm that a dog has false pregnancy, X-rays and/or ultrasounds may be necessary. These can evaluate many diseases and also check for developing puppies.
My Dog Has False Pregnancy… What Can I Do? Treatment Options
If the symptoms are mild, the best approach is to not intervene. Simply wait.
Some owners, naturally, try to stop milk production by covering the mammary glands or putting something to absorb the liquid. However, this can be harmful to the animal because it may lead to complications, such as increased secretion and more inflammation.
Don’t let your dog continuously lick her mammary glands, as this could increase milk production and potentially cause wounds. To prevent this, you can use an Elizabethan collar.
When you visit the veterinarian (because it’s very important that you do… have I mentioned that?), they will likely prescribe diuretics to decrease fluid retention, and mild sedatives.
If milk production is very pronounced, they might also plan a reduction in feeding to decrease production. If the animal eats and drinks less, milk secretion decreases.
Don’t fast your dog without first consulting your veterinarian! Fasting can be completely negative for some animals (those who are very thin, those with vomiting or diarrhea, etc.).
To reduce milk production, other medications that act directly on this process can be used. However, in many cases, it’s not recommended due to side effects. My advice, and likely your veterinarian’s as well, is that unless it’s something very serious, avoid these medications.
If your dog has decided to adopt an object, it might be a good idea in many cases to remove it. This will increase stress temporarily, yes, but it will also speed up the recovery process.
Your veterinarian will likely recommend spaying your dog a few weeks after recovery. My advice is to follow this recommendation as it will prevent the same situation from recurring in subsequent heat cycles.
Prevention: How Can I Prevent False Pregnancy in My Dog?
There’s no doubt about this one: spay your dog as soon as possible. This will not only prevent false pregnancy but also other serious diseases.
For example, spaying your dog before her first heat cycle dramatically reduces the occurrence of mammary tumors.
If you found this article helpful, please share it with other dog owners who might benefit from this information. Your support helps us continue providing valuable pet care information!
Featured image by Ri Butov
