False, pseudo or phantom pregnancies can affect un-neutered bitches due to individual response to normal hormonal changes associated with her season. They usually start after the first or second season and unfortunately, if your dog has a tendency to these, she’s likely to suffer season after season with symptoms of increasing severity which is where our herbal supplements can help. The symptoms of phantom pregnancy in dogs range from mild unsettled behaviour to more extreme nesting habits such as carrying toys, looking for pups and depression. Physical changes can also occur, including a change in body shape, enlarged teats and even milk production.
Symptoms of Phantom Pregnancy in Dogs
Our advisors are often asked about phantom pregnancy in dogs however, not many dog owners know what signs to look out for when their bitch may be experiencing a pseudo-pregnancy:
Nesting: This can involve moving around and creating a den. She may also start digging at bedding; a common sig for creating a safe whelping area.
Behavioural changes: Depression, anxiety and clinginess are all signs your bitch may be having a phantom pregnancy however these can be mistaken for other common conditions.
Loss of appetite: Eating less or not eating at all and vomiting are all common signs of a phantom pregnancy. You may also notice weight gain which is due to fluid retention, causing a swollen, bloated belly.
Physical changes: There can be physical signs for phantom pregnancy in dogs, such as swollen belly, enlarged mammary glands and she may start to produce discharge or even milk.
Nursing: Your bitch could also begin to show an interest in nursing. Perhaps by becoming attached to one particular toy and acting in a protective manner around it.
Herbal Remedies For Phantom Pregnancies in Dogs For Future Use
Our Raspberry Leaf Tablets can help your dog cope better with hormonal changes by helping maintain normal balance.
Prevention really is the best answer for a bitch who is prone to phantom pregnancies. In extreme cases where pseudo-pregnancy in dogs occurs at every season, it may be advisable to seek veterinary advice regarding the ultimate spaying of the bitch if she is not going to be bred from. However, if this is not an option, then try Raspberry Leaf Tablets for dogs which have been used successfully to help many bitches in this situation.
These tablets use high quality raspberry leaf extract and need to be given at a dosage rate of 1 tablet per 10kg bodyweight twice daily from the first sign of her coming into season. This dose should be continued for twelve weeks, which is up to the time when she would have whelped had she been mated.
Supporting your bitch after a phantom pregnancy or season is also important. Re-balance her hormones and bring normality back with our Evening Primrose Oil for dogs.
Remedies For Dogs For Immediate Use
If is too late for Raspberry Leaf Tablets For Dogs and your bitch is actually going through a phantom pregnancy, there is assistance available that will help to reduce the symptoms and make her more settled while it lasts.
There is a homoeopathic remedy, Pulsatilla 15C, which can help a lot. This should be given every 2 hours for the first 12 hours and then four times a day until the symptoms reduce. Very often a bitch will have swollen teats and will start to produce milk; this is one of the more obvious symptoms. Limiting the amount of cereals you feed will help to minimise those symptoms, as will, within reason, not giving extra fluids, as both of these encourage milk production (but always keep water readily available). At the same time, give the homoeopathic remedy Urtica 3C, which is specifically used to suppress milk production and one of our most widely used homoeopathic remedies for dogs. As with the Pulsatilla 15C, give it every 2 hours for the first 12 hours and then three times a day until the milk flow reduces.
Psychological Aspects of a Phantom Pregnancy in Dogs
While the above tips will help with the physical symptoms of a phantom pregnancy in dogs, it is the psychological aspects that are as distressing for us as owners as they are for her. We find it upsetting to see our bitch being upset and confused by what is happening to her. Effects may include anxiety, confusion and general insecurity that often results in her wanting to cling to us more than usual. The best way to help, apart from reassurance and lots of cuddles, is to give Scullcap & Valerian Tablets at a dosage of 1 tablet per 5kgs bodyweight twice a day. Scullcap and Valerian Tablets for dogs helps anxiety and stress, so it will help her to feel more calm and relaxed, and she will be noticeably less fretful and worried by the condition.
Find out more about how veterinary herbal supplements can help your dog by getting in touch with our friendly team on 01308 897272 or use our contact form. Plus, get free UK delivery on orders over £50.
Please remember, you should consult a vet if your bitch does seem not herself after a season. There are other life-threatening conditions such as pyometra, which can develop very quickly, so it is always best to get her checked out by a veterinary professional.
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121 thoughts on "How You Can Help Your Dog Through a Phantom Pregnancy"
my dog is having a phantom pregnancy – all ok but shes becoming agressive to other dogs and looks miserable. I have had to split her up from attacking another dog and ended up with a nasty bite on my hand. Concerned about her, got her a muzzle but she hates it! Shes booked i to be spade end of feb meantime its really distressing for all….
Hi Kate. Yes is must really be distressing. It might be worth looking at giving our Scullcap & Valerian Tablets which are a licensed herbal medicine for anxiety and nervousness. These tablets calm the activity in the nervous system rather than sedating muscles , so will help take the edge off and reduce aggressiveness. They may also be useful if she is stressed at the vets. If you need any more advice please feel free to give us a call on 01308 897272 and one of our advisors will be happy to help.
Hi my dog ruby is having a phantom pregnancy this is her second time she’s only two she’s been on heat twice am getting worried about her now she’s been like this for a month now can you please give me some advice on what I can give her the milk she’s producing is coming out of her teats she is not her self
Hi Angela,
We would recommend two of our Homeopathic remedies. Firstly the Urtica Urens 3C to help dry up the milk and the Pulsatilla 15C to address general phantom symptoms and help her feel more herself. If you would like anymore information please give us a call on 01308 897272 or email [email protected] and a product advisor will be happy to help
Hi bitch is nearly 2 and after second heat is suffering phantom started producing milk what is best to give to stop this she is a show dog and won’t even walk around the show puts her tail down and sits just not wanting to do it just wants to cuddle
Hi Ash
We are sorry to hear about your bitch. We would recommend giving her a homoeophatic called Utrica Urens 3C which helps to support the natural bodily process of less milk production so is especially good during a phantom. Our licensed herbal medicines Raspberry Leaf Tablets are also a good choice if a bitch is prone to phantom pregnancies. Please don’t hesitate to give one of our advisors a call on 01308 897272 who will be happy to help and advise you.
Hope this helps,
Thanks
Can you give your bitch evbing primrose oil to help through a phantom pregnancy
Hi Teresa – normally we’d recommend Raspberry Leaf during a phantom pregnancy but Evening Primrose is also suitable as it is known for it’s ability to help maintain a normal hormonal balance.
My bitch is going through her first phantom pregnancy and is carrying a ball around crying and only settles if I sit with her I am worried she might turn on my male as he keeps looking at the ball as if to say she has got my ball mum as she normally won’t play ball unless it’s to wind him up should I take the ball away from her or not
My vet prescribed steroid and said next to e she gets it she will have to be spayed as it will reduce her life.
HOW long did it take for your bitch to stop all the symptoms of a phantom pregnancy ? I can’t get my one dressed till end of June as its 3 months after her season she’s 6 but I have just rescued her from the people that I sold her to at 8 weeks old as she was one of my two Springer spaniel dogs pups and they were neglecting the poor thing so I don’t know if she’s had this problem before its new to me as my bitch was done after the first litter she’s got a lot of milk oozing and start to cry last night and she has a teddy bear but I took it off her as it was getting too much for her. And she was not mothering it she was really rough and biting it but she was breed with a staffie and was held down to feed the pups another reason why I have her back to they were both trying to breed her with anydog for money what would you recommend thanks again for your help
My dog was acting up recently. We took her to the vet and he said she had false pregnancy. He told us to give her a pair of socks wrapped together as a pretend dog and the effects would subside in a week. We were going to do so, but when I checked online to see what others thought, everywhere I searched said the total opposite. I don’t want to give her pills or tablets, what can I do? Is there a psychological treatment?
Had this problem recently with little Lottie. She was cranky, off her food and doing all the usual “whelping” due stuff! Took me 2 weeks to realise…. then her milk came in….Was too late really for the Raspberry Leaf but gave Pulsatilla 30c for 5 days… Result. Back to normal. But would it have resolved anyway? Who knows, but next time, I will be doing the whole thing after her season with the Raspberry Leaf too as it was quite bad… poor thing.