Dogs
It may seem absurd at first to witness your pet dog experiencing a false pregnancy, and even look like she were going to have a litter of pups. It may seem like a strange phenomenon to us people, but this is a very evident problem among female dogs. Primates, while following a menstrual cycle to give birth upon mating, are unlike dogs who follow what is known as the estrus cycle, which comes around every 6 - 8 months.
During this time, a female dog is made ready to be impregnated. The hormones thus function accordingly, doing what they were designed to do - make her look like a mama dog. Also known as a phantom pregnancy, it is not a cause for alarm when you see the classic pregnancy signs of lactating and behavioral alternations. The problem can be dealt with easier by getting a vet to help you out during this period.
Symptoms of False Pregnancy in Dogs
The symptoms that occur when a dog is pregnant are pretty clear and obvious when spotted. Once you see these changes in your dog, your next step would be to learn how to treat canine false pregnancy.
Is She Lactating?
Once the hormones start going haywire, this causes an imbalance, where the mammary glands then get activated, producing milk in the process. You'll notice the nipples take on a swollen, tender look. Sometimes, the mammary glands when filled with milk, cause pain for the dog, where a vet would have to milk the teats himself to take off some of this pain. The severity to sensitivity and the duration of the lactation phase differs from dog to dog, based on how their bodies react to the hormone imbalance.
Mothering Objects and Nesting
Be it clothes, stuffed toys or a ball of socks - dogs will tend to bring forth their maternal sides during a false pregnancy. If she takes things to her bedding area, and is with it all day, everyday, you can be certain that your pet dog is going through a phantom pregnancy. She will be protective and show aggression if you approach what she is mothering. She will start to prepare a place for the pups, making the bedding area comfortable with blankets, cushions or even bed covers and clothes.
Aggression and Bodily Changes
There's no need to panic when you see your dog's tummy has taken on a protrusive look. This happens when the hormones force the dog's system to enlarge the abdominal area, as it readies itself for the babies. If you know for a fact that your dog hasn't mated with a male, then this is a sure sign of being falsely pregnant. She may be aggressive one day, and lethargic another. Mood swings are of course another symptom that is quite evident. Even depression is an ongoing sign that she goes through when the false pregnancy period kicks in.
How to Treat Phantom Pregnancy in Dogs
There's nothing serious involved, or life-threatening about the situation. You can deal with this time on your own, and call in a vet when the time is right. Let's find out what you can do once you are sure that what your dog is going through is a false pregnancy.
Medication
The vet will suggest different medications that will help your pet dog during this time, keeping her at ease without the symptoms getting the best of her. The medications include diuretics, light tranquilizers, hormone therapy, prolactin suppressing drugs sedation or steroids.
Put a Stop to the Mothering
Whatever your dog collects and holds next to her 24/7, should be removed and taken away from the bedding area, or wherever she keeps them isolated. Don't allow her to make a nesting space for them, and gently saying 'no' will help your dog understand that her behavior is not acceptable. Keep taking the things she collects, and clear up the nesting area of items she may put there to ready the spot for the litter.
Knowing When to Neuter
Choosing the right time is important during this period. If you take her in to get neutered while the symptoms are at its peak, it will only lead to future episodes of false pregnancy. That is why it is important to wait for the signs to go away, which is when the period will have passed over - then take her in to get neutered.
Making Use of an Elizabethan Collar
You need to make sure that your pet dog avoids licking the abdomen area, since this extends the period of lactation upon stimulation of the mammary glands. Place the collar around her neck so that she cannot reach that area.
Emergency Signs to Look Out for
It is important to know when to take your dog to the vet when serious signs have to be addressed that your pet dog will showcase. Problems to look out for are, overly aggressive behavior that is hard for you to handle on your own, vaginal discharge that reeks or looks cloudy when expelled, long bouts of depression, extreme lethargy and inflammation of the mammary glands. Look out for signs like urinating often, lethargy, drinking a lot of water and loss of appetite, which could mean that she is going through what is known as pyrometra. It is a hormone abnormality condition that happens to dogs who haven't been neutered. Be sure to have the symptoms diagnosed to avoid confusing it with the false pregnancy.
It also is important to understand the workings of the female dog's system so that you are prepared for a false pregnancy when it occurs. Consult a vet on ways on how to help the situation once it does take place, and do what is needed to help your pet get through this time.
- How To Tell If Your Dog Is Pregnant
Most dog owners are at a loss when it comes to determining whether their dog is pregnant. If you have involved your pet in a breeding program, the news of her pregnancy must be something that you must have been expecting. On the other hand, many...
- Pregnant Dog Symptoms
Normally, the dogs achieve sexual maturity at the age of 6-12 months. However, some large breeds have their first estrous cycle at the age of 12-24 months. There are four stages of estrous cycle in dogs such as proestrus stage, estrus stage, diestrus...
- How Long Is A Dog In Heat
How long is a dog in heat? This is probably one of the most popular question posed by all those pet owners who have their female pet dogs going into heat for the first time. Well, for all those pet owners who are confused by the erratic behavior...
- How Long Is A Dog Pregnant
Pregnancy in dogs when planned can signal an exciting time ahead with a litter of cute little pups running around the place. However, unplanned dog pregnancies can be a source of worry for the pet owners who are constantly riddled by questions about...
- Canine Pregnancy Calendar - Signs And Stages Of Dog Pregnancy
The term pregnancy in dogs depends upon their breed. In small breeds, the heat cycle or estrus usually begins when they are 4 to 6 months old, and in larger breeds it starts between 12 to 24 months of age. An interesting fact about female dogs is...
Dogs
How to Treat Canine False Pregnancy
It may seem absurd at first to witness your pet dog experiencing a false pregnancy, and even look like she were going to have a litter of pups. It may seem like a strange phenomenon to us people, but this is a very evident problem among female dogs. Primates, while following a menstrual cycle to give birth upon mating, are unlike dogs who follow what is known as the estrus cycle, which comes around every 6 - 8 months.
During this time, a female dog is made ready to be impregnated. The hormones thus function accordingly, doing what they were designed to do - make her look like a mama dog. Also known as a phantom pregnancy, it is not a cause for alarm when you see the classic pregnancy signs of lactating and behavioral alternations. The problem can be dealt with easier by getting a vet to help you out during this period.
Symptoms of False Pregnancy in Dogs
The symptoms that occur when a dog is pregnant are pretty clear and obvious when spotted. Once you see these changes in your dog, your next step would be to learn how to treat canine false pregnancy.
Is She Lactating?
Once the hormones start going haywire, this causes an imbalance, where the mammary glands then get activated, producing milk in the process. You'll notice the nipples take on a swollen, tender look. Sometimes, the mammary glands when filled with milk, cause pain for the dog, where a vet would have to milk the teats himself to take off some of this pain. The severity to sensitivity and the duration of the lactation phase differs from dog to dog, based on how their bodies react to the hormone imbalance.
Mothering Objects and Nesting
Be it clothes, stuffed toys or a ball of socks - dogs will tend to bring forth their maternal sides during a false pregnancy. If she takes things to her bedding area, and is with it all day, everyday, you can be certain that your pet dog is going through a phantom pregnancy. She will be protective and show aggression if you approach what she is mothering. She will start to prepare a place for the pups, making the bedding area comfortable with blankets, cushions or even bed covers and clothes.
Aggression and Bodily Changes
There's no need to panic when you see your dog's tummy has taken on a protrusive look. This happens when the hormones force the dog's system to enlarge the abdominal area, as it readies itself for the babies. If you know for a fact that your dog hasn't mated with a male, then this is a sure sign of being falsely pregnant. She may be aggressive one day, and lethargic another. Mood swings are of course another symptom that is quite evident. Even depression is an ongoing sign that she goes through when the false pregnancy period kicks in.
How to Treat Phantom Pregnancy in Dogs
There's nothing serious involved, or life-threatening about the situation. You can deal with this time on your own, and call in a vet when the time is right. Let's find out what you can do once you are sure that what your dog is going through is a false pregnancy.
It also is important to understand the workings of the female dog's system so that you are prepared for a false pregnancy when it occurs. Consult a vet on ways on how to help the situation once it does take place, and do what is needed to help your pet get through this time.
- How To Tell If Your Dog Is Pregnant
Most dog owners are at a loss when it comes to determining whether their dog is pregnant. If you have involved your pet in a breeding program, the news of her pregnancy must be something that you must have been expecting. On the other hand, many...
- Pregnant Dog Symptoms
Normally, the dogs achieve sexual maturity at the age of 6-12 months. However, some large breeds have their first estrous cycle at the age of 12-24 months. There are four stages of estrous cycle in dogs such as proestrus stage, estrus stage, diestrus...
- How Long Is A Dog In Heat
How long is a dog in heat? This is probably one of the most popular question posed by all those pet owners who have their female pet dogs going into heat for the first time. Well, for all those pet owners who are confused by the erratic behavior...
- How Long Is A Dog Pregnant
Pregnancy in dogs when planned can signal an exciting time ahead with a litter of cute little pups running around the place. However, unplanned dog pregnancies can be a source of worry for the pet owners who are constantly riddled by questions about...
- Canine Pregnancy Calendar - Signs And Stages Of Dog Pregnancy
The term pregnancy in dogs depends upon their breed. In small breeds, the heat cycle or estrus usually begins when they are 4 to 6 months old, and in larger breeds it starts between 12 to 24 months of age. An interesting fact about female dogs is...