by Janet Farricelli CPDT-KA

Created on: July 15, 2009

Pseudocyesis it the medical term depicting false pregnancy in dogs. It typically occurs in female dogs that have not been impregnated approximately four to twelve weeks after their last heat. It is still not well understood what seems to trigger false pregnancy in dogs, yet there seems to be an association between false pregnancy and the interaction of hormones along with the increase of prolactin, something yet to be further investigated and researched.

Symptoms of false pregnancy

Affected dogs will act as if pregnant, causing owners often to believe their dog is pregnant when she is not.

-Nesting

Affected dogs may be found pacing around the home looking for blankets and paper to shred in order to create a comfortable area to give birth and raise puppies.

-Mothering

Often, a dog suffering from false pregnancy will be found adopting a stuffed animal or any other inanimate object and treating it as a puppy. Often, the dog may even guard it against the owners and strangers.

-Physical Changes

The most stunning symptoms are those affecting the dog's body. Dogs affected by false pregnancy may exhibit enlarged nipples and eventually they may even secrete milk or fluids. Dogs may also exhibit weight gain, abdominal swelling and even vaginal discharges. Some may even mimic labor. However, in some cases, these symptoms may indicate a case of pyometra, a potentially fatal disease affecting intact female dogs.

Diagnosis

Your vet will palpate the dog's abdomen to ensure the dog is not pregnant. This can be done at the vet's office. As early as after 28 days, veterinaries may be able to palpate the embryos through the dogs' abdomen.

An ultrasound may be a more accurate and reliable test. This test may actually even help determine how many puppies the female dog is expecting.

A Relaxin pregnancy test as well may be helpful.This test is a blood test than can be done as early as 20 days after the luteininzing hormonal surge.

X-rays can confirm pregnancy after 45 days.

Treatment

Luckily, the condition resolves on its own within two to three weeks. Dogs that tend to lick their mammary glands should be prevented in doing so because this may prolong the production of milk and the discomfort. Often, an Elizabethan collar may be helpful in such cases.

Dogs that are affected once by pseudo pregnancy often are likely to be prone to future episodes. In some cases, female dogs may be quite miserable during their pseudo pregnancy therefore, they may require medications or hormonal treatments to minimize the milk flow.

Owners that are considering spaying their female dog should do so only once they are certain the pseudo pregnancy is over.

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