What is a false pregnancy?
False pregnancy, phantom pregnancy, pseudo-pregnancy or pseudocyesis are all terms that refer to a display of maternal (mothering) behavior, combined with the physical signs of pregnancy following estrus ("heat"), in an unspayed female dog that is not actually pregnant.
A false pregnancy may occur in a dog, regardless of whether she was mated. Most intact female dogs show some signs of false pregnancy after an estrus cycle.
What are the signs of false pregnancy, and when do they occur?
Signs of false pregnancy usually begin four to nine weeks after the previous heat period and mimic the signs of true pregnancy. The more common signs of pseudo-pregnancy include mammary gland enlargement with or without the production of milk, lethargy, periodic vomiting, and fluid retention. Dogs with false pregnancy often have a decreased appetite but seldom lose weight, likely due to the amount of excess fluid retained.
These signs can occur at any age and do not necessarily follow every estrus. The severity of clinical signs varies between individuals and may vary from one cycle to the next in the same dog.
"Some affected dogs show signs of false labor and then protectively guard toys or other small objects."
Behavioral changes also occur during pseudo-pregnancy, including nesting, mothering activity, restlessness, decreased interest in physical activity, and occasionally even aggression. Some affected dogs show signs of false labor and then protectively guard toys or other small objects.
If your dog is experiencing these symptoms, but could possibly have been mated, then your veterinarian can perform an ultrasound or X-rays to assess for pregnancy.
Why do these signs occur?
After a female dog has an estrus cycle, her ovaries begin to produce hormones, regardless of whether she is pregnant or not. These hormones prepare the uterus to receive the fetuses and maintain pregnancy. If the dog is pregnant, the hormones will continue to be produced until shortly before the puppies are born. If she is not pregnant, the levels of the hormones decline after four to six weeks.
In the early stages, increased levels of circulating hormones cause changes that mimic pregnancy. As the hormone levels decline in the non-pregnant dog, they send signals to the body that stimulate false labor and mammary gland development. Why these hormonal changes occur in the non-pregnant dog remains a mystery.
How is false pregnancy treated?
Most cases of false pregnancy are mild and do not require treatment since the symptoms subside in approximately 14 to 21 days. If the dog appears physically ill or the behavioral changes are severe enough to cause concern, treatment is indicated.
"Most cases of false pregnancy are mild and do not require treatment since the symptoms subside in approximately 14 to 21 days."
Treatment is symptomatic and may include sedation to relieve anxiety and treatment with diuretics to reduce milk production or relieve fluid retention. Do not massage or milk the teats during a false pregnancy, as this will only encourage more milk production. In rare cases, hormonal treatment may be required.
If your dog will not be used for breeding, ovariohysterectomy is recommended to prevent future episodes. Ideally, this surgical sterilization should be performed after all signs have resolved. If she is surgically sterilized while she is experiencing signs of pseudo-pregnancy, signs may continue for several weeks, despite the fact she has been spayed.
