Thread: Phantom/False Pregnancy

Had a Rottweiler (she was about 3yoa) have a False pregnancy years ago, my vet at the time said do nothing.
Cleared up by itself in about 6 weeks from memory, another case of masterful inaction.
Never reoccurred.

Went on to have a very successful litter no problem delivering or raising litter.

John, I know I am not a breeder but it is nice to have a chance to discuss behaviour on here!
Recently I went through the same thing with my own Mal bitch (5yo, 2 pregnancies).
I followed the same course of action you did and had the same result.
I often wonder whether phantoms reflect in any way upon the fertility of the bitch.

Hi all

Nice topic.
We have a little mini foxy for our kids. it is a inside dog that has the run of the house.
She had a litter of pups when she was two years old all went well.
Then two years latter she developed a phantom pregnancy.
She developed milk in her tits, started nesting, took one of the kids fluffy toys and started to nurse it.
She even went in to labor and had labor pains for three days.

We where advised by the vet to do nothing and it all cleared it self with in two weeks from the start of the labor.

Adam VIPSS

Hi John
should add my Rottweiler that had the Phantom lived to twelve and a half years old, so no health impact.

Hi John,
Amy got it right one.
As a breeder this has happened to me on several occasions, just do not accomodate or pander to her symptoms, that is the worst thing you can do , and plenty of exercise to get her teats back up.
Otherwise vets can give you something to dry the milk up, I have never had to take that path.
You must keep an eye on her for all the issues that Amy raises.

The old blokes used to bathe the teats in Apple Cider Vinegar for a while, they got the exercise because they would be back at their job.. Keep food intake low, but good fat content, tells the system pups are weaned and it works on mending itself.
Worked the few times l have used it , very quickly.Tony

Many thanks for the advice everybody. The symptoms seemed to coincide with what would have been the gestation period from her last season had she been mated, so as you can imagine I was somewhat panicky thinking she’d been “caught” by my wife’s dog a GSD. I also have a young female now 9 months and I thought maybe her presence (they play with each other occasionally) may have had something to do with it (psychologically).

Once again thanks for the advice, as a novice where this is concerned I think my imagination ran riot!

Originally Posted by Amy Pattison

Hey John, Brad,

Good move reducing food and NOT hand expressing. Just like human women, expression stimulates milk production and builds up supply. My current girl phantoms after every season and it is just treated normally no difference just slightly less food and when she fills up and her teats leak i check for any sign of infection , mastitus etc (build up of milk causing engorgement) and keep the undercarriage clean if she hasn't done this herself properly. Clears up nicely just give the teats time to return to shape which normally occurs within a few weeks. Important thing is to check for lumps because should u get them, antibiotics are normally administered but if it goes unnoticed a nasty infection can occur resulting in excessive scratching/bleeding and that is not comfortable! Trust me I know! IF engorgement occurs a damp cool face washer applied to the affected area will usually settle the hardness and bring relief to the bitch.

Amy, yes the vet advised exactly what you have advised.........the course I decided to take.........must admit I was somewhat worried at the begining.

Thanks again Amy.