Phantom Pregnancy For Dogs

Monday, 24 September 2007

I have a female boxer called Lady she is 3 years old. Her teats have swollen and the vet informed me she is having a phantom pregnancy, she has never had sex. Is this usual and what would you recommend?   Answer: A phantom pregnancy is when a female imagines and goes through all the symptoms of believing she is pregnant. Females will store toys and treat them like young puppies, her teats will get large (enlarged mammary glands )and she will even produce milk. Her Abdomen will swell and her appetite will change. The behavior is not good during this period. At whelping time she will be very hyperactive and very excitable, she will pant and even tremble. She will curl up to her toys (puppies) varying symptoms are restlessness, whining and crying. Some females will go off their food and expect a lot of abnormal behavior. Females will become very affectionate to the family. Your vet should see the female who will no doubt recommend to reduce her diet and fluid intake, since the more she drinks the more milk will be produced. Dried food is best and plenty of exercise to keep her bowels moving so as to excrete all the excess fluid produced by her body. A phantom pregnancy is not to be considered a neurotic tendency, but should be considered as normal behavior due to an abnormality of the ovaries. Another theory is that the wild only the dominant female in the pack will be covered by a dominant male of her choosing. The other females normally produce milk for the litter which can be in excess of ten puppies. The other females in the pack produce milk to help the mother to feed the puppies. I would not be surprised that another female in your area in about one kilometer has had puppies and your pet is producing milk for them. Your vet will treat your dog, and then I would recommend that she be spayed, so that she will not suffer again. Having a phantom pregnancy does not mean that the bitch is sterile and unable to be mated and bear a litter. Commitment, Firmness, but kindness by David the Dogman David Klein FDTCB. F.inst D. Canine Behaviourist

 

--------