Can you help my dog with its phantom pregnancy?

ShootingUK is the complete shooting resource for the British shooting community. From shotgun licence and shotgun certificate information to gun reviews, game shooting, clay shooting and more.

| Next

Can you help my dog with its phantom pregnancy?

The symptoms of a phantom pregnancy may be so slight the owner may not even notice.

By Paul Rawlings

Sunday, 29 July 2007

My two-year-old working bitch is experiencing phantom pregnancies. The vet prescribed her some expensive medication, which yielded some improvement. What is the best course of action for a bitch going through this trauma?

A:

It is natural and very common for bitches to show some degree of false pregnancy, perhaps producing a great deal of milk.

The symptoms may be so slight that the owner may not even notice.

However, there may be a mood change, loss of appetite, digging up the carpet, carrying round toys or just being completely miserable.

It is also true bitches that have never had a season do not suffer from false pregnancies, so many vets will advise bitches be spayed that are suffering severe symptoms, which are likely to worsen with each subsequent season.

Spaying does have side effects in some instances, such as weight gain or urinary incontinence, but both of these are treatable.

The side effects of the more severe symptoms of false pregnancy can be life-threatening, however, such as mammary cancer. Consult your vet for more advice regarding this condition and whether surgery is advisable.

Can you tell me about keepers' licences?

A:Obviously, if you use a shotgun and/or a rifle y...

Does the point of bullet impact change when a scope is turned down for poor light?

A:You are right to be concerned regarding the poss...

Guns

RPA International GP Hunter rifle review

RPA International GP Hunter rifle review: The GP Hunter is a sporter v... Read more

Sporting Answers

What's the best way to call deer?

Watching a rutting buck out in the field, I saw him respond when I was... Read more

News

Shoot survey

Survey shows shoots profits... Read more

Comments

lee strange

Thu, 15th Nov 2007 20:37:54

my mallumute dog has had milk dried up round her nippals and she has took all her toys to her bed .we can touch them she is ok with this .what should i do. should i take her to the vets.please could you let me no.thank you mrs strange

What's in this issue?

Don't miss this week's issue (on sale Wednesday 1st February). FREE PRIZE DRAW - it is week 3 of our great "Gun a Week" competition, see P53 for further details and how to enter! Plus, who is top dog? Paul Rawlings reports on the 2012 Cocker Spaniel Championship. Get down to your newsagents and buy your copy today!