Phantom Pregnancy!

[Busybee]

So it would appear that my little Willow is currently having a phantom pregnancy!
She has been acting a bit strange for a few days, but today very unusual....laying in bed all day so I emptied her toy basket out in the hope she'd want to play....that backfired, she got one of her toys (a pink rubber dummy rattle type thing) took it into her bed and started whimpering and kind of protecting it? She normally sleeps happily down in the hallway by herself but tonight she cried at the gate till we let her up and she ran straight into my daughter's bedroom (dummy in mouth I might add) and has snuggled in her bed with her.
Any tips on how to make this any better for her would be great, I feel so bad for her☹

 

[leashedForLife]

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Vet, vet, vet. She may need hormones to shorten it or relieve specific symptoms, esp'ly lactation.
U might want to ask about scheduling a future spay, as bitches who get false-pregnancies are prone to have it happen again. // Catching her between estrus is important, for a safe spay.

- terry

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[Busybee]

Yes, we are definitely going to be booking her in to be spayed now, can't go through this again.
So there is possibly something the vet can do then, I didn't want to waste their time being an overbearing dog owner lol

 

[Josie]

Sorry to hear this @Busybee :-( it’s horrible seeing our dogs act out of character.

 

[JoanneF]

The vet can give hormones to help her. Maybe take a video of some of her behaviour?

 

[Busybee]

I've booked her in today at 11.20, so hopefully they can do something to help her. And yes your so right @Josie it's awful seeing her like this, totally not herself at all, even growling occasionally at us if we go near her toy, so unlike her

 

[Josie]

Hello @Busybee - just checking in on how the vet appointment went?

 

[leashedForLife]

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emotionally, while it's going on, it's upsetting to the dog - but blessedly, when it's over, it's totally over; they're not traumatized after the event.
It's not fun for anybody, while it's on. Let her keep her "baby", if at all possible - in fact, if she has something U really cannot leave with her, b/c it's dangerous [batteries in a remote, swallowable squeakers in a soft-toy...], SWAP her for a 'safe' item, such as a soft-toy that's labeled as safe for infants under 3-YO.
That will have no buttons, no plastic noses, very sturdy sewn seams, embroidered eyes, etc. // To make the new "baby" more attractive, swipe a cloth over mum-dog, such as rubbing her rump above her tail for a soft scratch, then wipe the now-scented cloth over the "baby" U hope to get her to adopt, in order to get the dangerous baby away.

Usually U can offer the safe substitute, let her examine it & sniff, & admire her dangerous "baby" verbally - then gently stroke the dangerous baby while praising mum-dog, hopefully she's still engrossed in the new baby, & finally pick up the dangerous baby, still praising mum-dog, hide it behind U, & walk off.
Put the former-baby in a completely inaccessible place - if it's yer mobile phone, don't put it in yer purse with the purse on the sofa or table!
Hang up the bag so that the dog can't even leap to grab it & pull it down, on a hook inside a closed closet, on a high shelf, etc.
If the dog gets it back, it will be MUCH harder to nick it a 2nd time.

- terry

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[Violet Turner]

how did today go?

 

[Busybee]

So was confirmed as a phantom pregnancy, no medication needed at this point though, vet said best to just let it ride out so to speak, but, she is booked in to be spayed on Thursday ☹.
Could not go through this again, she has become so clingy it's untrue, can't even go for a wee without her crying for me at the bottom of the stairs lol.
Thanks for all the advice everyone xx

 

[PWDmum]

So was confirmed as a phantom pregnancy, no medication needed at this point though,

Thats good to hear, medication wold be a last resort, personally I would leave having her spayed for a little while yet, I am surprised vet would suggest a spay while she is going through a PP, you should treat it the same a a real pregnancy or season, and wait the a appropriate time t allow hormones and blood supply to settle down again.... around 10 /12 weeks after .

How to deal with a phantom, your vet is right she needs to ride this out, but to do this you need to take ALL her toys away, she is nesting with them and treating them as her babies which will only heighten her symptoms, get her out and igive her lots of exercise, and maybe reduce her food a little , so she is a little hungry, in other words you have to take her mind off it, give her something else to think about and tire her out, like her stomach .

I agree , she will need to be spayed as this can happen again, but at the appropriate time,

 

[Busybee]

Well I did debate whether it was the right time to be spayed, I thought maybe it was too soon?

 

[PWDmum]

Well I did debate whether it was the right time to be spayed, I thought maybe it was too soon?

She`s your dog you make the decision when , if you are hesitant then go with your gut, don`t let the vet dictate to you.

 

[Josie]

Aw bless her - I’m sure she’s getting lots of love and reassurance x

 

[Violet Turner]

Well I'm glad to here it is only a phantom pregnancy. Give her all your love and affection. She will be okay having a spay now but it is your decision.