Is your pet actually pregnant? A pseudopregnancy may occur in an unspayed female dog, regardless of whether or not she was mated. Learn about the signs, treatment, and prevention of false pregnancies.
What is pseudopregnancy?
Pseudopregnancy, pseudocyesis, phantom pregnancy, or false pregnancy are all terms that refer to a display of maternal (mothering) behaviour combined with the physical signs of pregnancy following estrus (“heat”) in an unspayed female dog that is not actually pregnant.
When do false pregnancies occur in dogs?
A false pregnancy can occur in an intact (unspayed) female dog regardless of whether or not she has been mated. It occurs 4 to 9 weeks after her estrus, or heat cycle.
False pregnancies do not happen in spayed (sterilised) female dogs.
A false pregnancy can occur at any age and does not necessarily follow every estrus.
The severity and duration of clinical signs can vary not only from dog to dog, but also from one heat cycle to the next in the same dog.
What are signs of a pseudopregnancy in a dog?
Signs of false pregnancy mimic those of a true pregnancy. They usually include enlarged mammary glands, which may or may not be accompanied by the production of milk. Lethargy, periodic vomiting, and fluid retention are also common signs.
Often, a dog with a pseudopregnancy has appetite loss and is eating less, but she may not always look like she has lost weight, likely because of the amount of excess fluid retained.
Symptoms of false pregnancy in dogs include:
- Nesting
- Mothering activity or guarding toys/small objects
- Restlessness
- Lethargy or loss of interest in physical activity
- Vomiting
- Decreased appetite
- Abdominal distension
- Mammary gland enlargement
- Brownish or watery secretion from the mammary glands
Some affected dogs may show signs of a false labour, and also occasionally aggression.
How are false pregnancies diagnosed in dogs?
The diagnosis of a false pregnancy is often based on history and ruling out other possible causes for the clinical signs that your dog is showing.
Blood work can be used to rule out things like pyometra (pus in the uterus), a life-threatening infection in the uterus. Ultrasound can be used to diagnose if your dog is pregnant after day 28 of pregnancy. Radiographs (x-rays) can also diagnose pregnancy, but not until day 45.
Treatment for pseudopregnancy in dogs
Mild cases of false pregnancy do not require treatment, because the symptoms will tend to subside in about 14 to 21 days.
If your dog appears physically ill, symptomatic treatment can be started. This can include antiemetics to decrease vomiting and anorexia, or diuretics to reduce mammary secretions and fluid retention.
Your veterinarian may also recommend using warm or cold packs on the mammary glands to decrease inflammation and minimise the stimulation that promotes lactation.
How to prevent false pregnancies in dogs
Surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus — a spay surgery — is used to prevent future episodes of false pregnancy behaviour. Read more about sterilising your pet here.
Ideally, you should wait until all symptoms have completely resolved before spaying the dog. This is because if your dog undergoes a spay surgery while she is experiencing signs of a false pregnancy, the signs may continue for several weeks after surgery.
Fear-Free veterinary care
Paws N’ Claws Veterinary Surgery is led by Dr Esther Lam, a Fear-Free certified veterinarian who prioritises your pet’s emotional and physical well-being.
Our veterinary clinics in Yishun and Upper Thomson offer a wide range of services, including consultation, surgery, and hospitalisation care. Pet first-aid kits are also available for purchase at our vet clinic premises.
Have a question, or wish to book an appointment at Paws N’ Claws? WhatsApp us at 8891 4417 (Upper Thomson) or 8809 0787 (Yishun).