What is false pregnancy in dogs?
False pregnancy occurs regularly in female dogs. Dogs are descended from wolves. In wolves or wild dogs, only the ‘alpha’ females mate, while the other females experience false pregnancy. The female then nurses and cares for the puppies of others. When a household dog experiences false pregnancy, it can be very troublesome for both the owner and the dog.
Cause
False pregnancy is a hormonal disorder that can occur in all dog breeds. It can happen about 2 to 3 months after the heat cycle. From the start of the heat cycle, the progesterone level rises and then falls again once milk production begins. At this point, the hormone prolactin increases, which is responsible for milk production and maternal behavior. The increased secretion of prolactin is a result of a rapid drop in progesterone concentration during the regression of the corpus luteum in the ovaries. In false pregnant females, this often also causes behavioral changes. For example, the females may become snappish or very affectionate.
Symptoms of false pregnancy
- Enlarged mammary glands. Milk or a brown to blood-red fluid may be discharged.
- Changes in behavior; some females become more aggressive and nervous; they essentially protect their unborn puppies.
- Changes in appetite; most females eat less, but others eat much more.
- False pregnant females enjoy walks much less because they want to stay close to their nest. Some females require a lot of attention and will often come sit on your lap.
Treatment of false pregnancy
False pregnancy usually resolves on its own within 2 to 4 weeks. It is important to provide your dog with as much distraction as possible. It’s best to put away her toys since the female thinks these are her puppies and will defend them. Additionally, you should prevent the female from making a nest.
Sterilization
False pregnancy can recur with every heat cycle; to prevent this, you can have the female sterilized. You can also give the female medication that suppresses prolactin production through hormones; this medication is available from your veterinarian. There are also homeopathic products like Puur Schijnzwanger that can help with false pregnancy. Females that experience false pregnancy too often are more likely to develop mammary gland tumors. Additionally, false pregnancy can lead to uterine infection. In such cases, sterilization of the female is recommended.
