Phantom Pregnancy

[doglova]

My bitch is having a phantom pregnancy. I was so worried she had been mated not that we have a male and i was super careful in letting her we don't have many strays but was still worried so got her checked by the vet nope no babies just a phantom.

I'm so surprised she has milk and vet said she may even go through labour pains and will nurture thing. Is this common i haven't heard of this before this is my first entire bitch usually have them desexed but i am showing her. Will this happen every season should i breed from a bitch that does this or is it genetic. Breeder said they have never had a bitch do it before. Did i do something to encourage this to happen?

[Bisart Dobes]

Hi DL,

I have a bitch who goes into a phantom every season . She has done since her first season, she produces milk etc etc - she even locks herself into her crate with 'puppies' and will guard them with her life. She literally drives me nuts. Her daughter never had a phantom until her last season - she's 3 and a half and her granddaughter had one after her first season. So I think it is genetic. Though after six and a half years of phantom hell I have found the only thing that has ever stopped Rhemy's phantom - all three of them went into phantoms after their seasons and all three stopped within a week (EVEN RHEMY).

Contact Carol Freeman K9 Kinesiology & Natural Therapy's on 03 9796 8330 and tell her Bernadette gave you her number - ask for the Phantom Drops. They are a godsend.

Good luck and let me know how you go,

Bernadette

[doglova]

would she send the to NSW couldn't get to Vic for a consult

[Bisart Dobes]

would she send the to NSW couldn't get to Vic for a consult

Yes, she has clients all over Aus - the phantom drops are the same for all dogs I believe - though she can do consults with a sample of the dogs coat if need be. Believe me, it works.

Bernadette

[Alyosha]

If you have a look online you'll see it is quite common in bitches. It is due to their physical make up and is not in any way yours or your breeder's fault. It may occur more often in certain family lines but is a normal thing for bitches generally due to the following:

The second phase of the cycle is called estrus, which is characterized by the change in character of the vaginal discharge from bloody to straw colored. At this time the female begins to allow the male to mount. It is classically the change from proestrus to estrus that ovulation occurs and the female is most fertile.

After the mating and the discharge is over, the period of diestrus begins. The female is hormonally pregnant regardless of whether or not she is actually pregnant. During this time progesterone is produced by a structure in the ovary called a corpus luteum. This structure is produced by ovulation when the ova (eggs) are released. If the dog is pregnant, other hormones will eventually take over to maintain the corpus luteum for the entire 63 days of the pregnancy. If she is not pregnant, the corpus luteum must simply wear out before she goes back into the period of hormonal inactivity in which she spends the bulk of her time. The corpus luteum wears out slowly (rather than suddenly as in pregnancy and puppy birth) over 70 days or longer. Remember, during this time her body essentially thinks she is pregnant. All the hormones are present; only the puppies are missing.

From: http://www.marvistavet.net/html/body_canin..._pregnancy.html

So it is the corpus luteum's fault!! Sneaky bugger that it is - worrying us like that!

We had one once too - even with milk and nesting with small furry toys. I was worried she would get depressed without real babies - she put so much effort into nesting etc.

But she suddenly snapped out of it one day. Hopefully the drops recommended will make it easier on both of you!

Edited April 1, 2009 by Nattylou