Introduction
Phantom or false pregnancy (pseudopregnancy or pseudocyesis) is most commonly seen in an intact female dog, but can occur less commonly following a spay (overiohysterectomy) procedure. These females will show signs of pregnancy including milk production, maternal behavior, distended abdomen, and mammary gland enlargement. The gland secretion may look like milk or have a brownish tinge. This does not indicate a healing or other reproductive problem.
Causes of False Pregnancies in Dogs
There are four phases to the canine reproductive cycle. When surgery occurs during diestrus (this phase normally lasts about 60 days), a time when the female hormone progesterone is normally high, the sudden change in the hormone levels may trigger a false pregnancy.
Proestrus is the phase leading up to heat when a reddish discharge is normally noted. The heat (estrus) is when the dog is receptive to mating. Anestrus, following diestrus, is the long, quiescent phase before proestrus.
Treating False Pregnancy in Dogs
While she is going through this condition, warm and cold compresses and a collar to restrain her from licking the glands will help to resolve things. There is some evidence to suggest that restricting food intake for a few days will help to decrease milk production. Breeders often do this at the time of weaning litters. Without any therapy, you can expect to see this problem settle down in 14-20 days.
If any glands become swollen, red, warm or painful, have her checked immediately by your veterinarian since sometimes if she has been bothering the glands, mastitis (infection of the mammary gland) could potentially develop.