False Dog Pregnancy

The question most often asked the veterinarian about any phase of udder trouble is, "Doctor, my dog's breasts are all swollen. What can be the matter?" Usually nothing is the matter. She was in heat two months ago and wasn't mated. All bitches that ovulate develop so - called phantom or pseudo pregnancies. If they do not, they failed to ovulate. So this condition is a normal one. If your bitch comes in season and fails to develop swelling of the breasts later, then you should consult your veterinarian.

If a bitch has a false pregnancy with well - developed mammary glands, it is an indication she will be a good nurturing mother when she is bred.

Here is an example situation: There is once a frantic owner whose whelping female had delivered eight fine puppies and was still heavy with pups. "How can we shut her off?" he asked. An hour later she had a total of twelve and filially she stopped with sixteen beautiful offspring. When that female had been in season, her mother, who was in the same house, had been in season at the same time but was not bred. The mother was experiencing a false pregnancy, which was fortunate for such a large litter, for she climbed into the nest box and nursed half the litter as if they were her own.

Novice owners can do a lot of expecting. They may even sell expected puppies on the basis of outward signs in the dam. They will be disappointed when no puppies arrive. If a bitch is fertile and ovulates, anticipate that she will behave like a pregnant bitch even though she is not bred. There will be appetite increase, deposition of fat, increased weight, swelling of breasts, milk production, and often a tendency to want to mother. At the time when she would have produced her litter had she actually been pregnant, she may act for all the world as though she were going to whelp. For a day or two she may refuse food, make sanest, and apparently experience every sensation of birth without result. This is called a false or phantom or pseudo pregnancy. It is entirely normal.

Causes of False Pregnancy

• The exact reason behind false pregnancy is not yet understood. The hormonal mechanisms behind the swollen tits are yet to be determined. The reproductive cycle undergoes several hormonal changes which lead to various physical transforms. The swelling of the breasts of you’re your doggy is actually the result of decreasing hormonal changes in the progesterone and increasing in prolactin.
• Some pets may experience false pregnancy or the swelling of the breasts even if they are spayed. The dogs that are diestrus phase in one of the reproductive cycles.
• Dog who suffer from hypothyroidism often undergo blood changes which stimulates the prolactin leading to the development of the breasts.