Phantom Pregnancy

Mal · 03-13-2005, 05:42 PM

Hi all,

Just a quick question about Phantom Pregnancy. Our Basset Matilda has just finished her first season and was locked in on our deck for 4 week's so she couldn't possibly have had any contact with boys. Over the weekend her teats started to swell. As I was ever so worried I spoke to the vet and he said it's very common for dog's to do this right up to producing milk and nesting. Feeling a bit better about it after speaking with him I was just wondering if anybody else has had this? We will be having her spayed but wanted her to have one litter first......Not one she thinks she having now by the way.

Thanks Mal

Wayne · 03-13-2005, 08:03 PM

When I was a teen ager I had a female basset that did the same thing. We knew she wasn't pregnant. She even swelled up a little bit.

Dean · 03-14-2005, 07:39 AM

Some bassets seem to enjoy false pregnancy. They get fat - they get boobs- they get milk - and after awhile they say enough of that and go back to normal. By the way there is no valid medical reason for her to have a litter before she is spayed.

Barbara Winters · 03-14-2005, 09:14 AM

I've heard stories of dogs in a chain link kennel getting pregnant so wondered if a real pregnancy could be possible? Most decks I've seen have open areas on the sides and aren't so tall to prevent a "desperate" male from leaping over the edge.

I've heard that false pregnancies tend to run in certain lines. Have any of you breeders noticed a "hereditary" tendency?

Dean · 03-14-2005, 01:22 PM

one woman had a bitch get pregnant and claims the male in the next kennel went over the fence, did his thing and then went back to his kennel--- I have a hard time believing the last half of that, but that's the way the pups were registered and she is a "responsible" breeder ----???????

Aruuuu · 03-16-2005, 09:02 AM

My own late Matilda (I still LOVE that name) had a couple of false pregnancies, and it's not that uncommon. I'm not sure about the hereditary factor in false pregnancies, but I suppose it makes sense.....

bubbad · 03-18-2005, 03:55 PM

Just curious. Why do you want a litter of puppies? The sooner she is spayed the better her chances of avoiding breast cancer as she ages. I, too,know of males that slip through "whatever" to get to a bitch. Males can smell a bitch in heat from quite aways off.

DaisyMaesMommy · 03-20-2005, 03:21 AM

Hello Everyone, long time no see...

My DaisyMae went through back to back false pregnancies just before we had her spayed (my vet had me wait until she was through the false pregnancy to spay her). With the second one she was miserable with milk, we ended up using cabbage leaves to dry her up faster so we could have her surgery. I am curious if this is more a basset thing or do all breeds have this?

ashers4142 · 03-30-2005, 10:01 AM

My Bella is about 4 weeks into a false pregnancy too. My vet said it was wierd that it happened because she is so young (just turned 1 on the 17th).

About what time could i expect her to start producing milk and do you reccomend anything for it to dry up faster?

03-13-2005, 05:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mal Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Aus Posts: 14	Phantom Pregnancy Hi all, Just a quick question about Phantom Pregnancy. Our Basset Matilda has just finished her first season and was locked in on our deck for 4 week's so she couldn't possibly have had any contact with boys. Over the weekend her teats started to swell. As I was ever so worried I spoke to the vet and he said it's very common for dog's to do this right up to producing milk and nesting. Feeling a bit better about it after speaking with him I was just wondering if anybody else has had this? We will be having her spayed but wanted her to have one litter first......Not one she thinks she having now by the way. Thanks Mal

03-13-2005, 08:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
Wayne Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 137	Re: Phantom Pregnancy When I was a teen ager I had a female basset that did the same thing. We knew she wasn't pregnant. She even swelled up a little bit.

03-14-2005, 07:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
Dean Senior Member Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: Glen Moore, Pa. U.S.A. Posts: 797	Re: Phantom Pregnancy Some bassets seem to enjoy false pregnancy. They get fat - they get boobs- they get milk - and after awhile they say enough of that and go back to normal. By the way there is no valid medical reason for her to have a litter before she is spayed.

03-14-2005, 09:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
Barbara Winters Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1998 Location: New England Posts: 1,960	Re: Phantom Pregnancy I've heard stories of dogs in a chain link kennel getting pregnant so wondered if a real pregnancy could be possible? Most decks I've seen have open areas on the sides and aren't so tall to prevent a "desperate" male from leaping over the edge. I've heard that false pregnancies tend to run in certain lines. Have any of you breeders noticed a "hereditary" tendency?

03-14-2005, 01:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dean Senior Member Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: Glen Moore, Pa. U.S.A. Posts: 797	Re: Phantom Pregnancy one woman had a bitch get pregnant and claims the male in the next kennel went over the fence, did his thing and then went back to his kennel--- I have a hard time believing the last half of that, but that's the way the pups were registered and she is a "responsible" breeder ----???????

03-16-2005, 09:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
Aruuuu Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central MA, USA Posts: 773	Re: Phantom Pregnancy My own late Matilda (I still LOVE that name) had a couple of false pregnancies, and it's not that uncommon. I'm not sure about the hereditary factor in false pregnancies, but I suppose it makes sense..... __________________ If stress were exercise, I'd be in great shape!

03-18-2005, 03:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
bubbad Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Boiling Springs,Pa Posts: 1,346	Re: Phantom Pregnancy Just curious. Why do you want a litter of puppies? The sooner she is spayed the better her chances of avoiding breast cancer as she ages. I, too,know of males that slip through "whatever" to get to a bitch. Males can smell a bitch in heat from quite aways off.

03-20-2005, 03:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
DaisyMaesMommy Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Fisherville, KY Posts: 75	Re: Phantom Pregnancy Hello Everyone, long time no see... My DaisyMae went through back to back false pregnancies just before we had her spayed (my vet had me wait until she was through the false pregnancy to spay her). With the second one she was miserable with milk, we ended up using cabbage leaves to dry her up faster so we could have her surgery. I am curious if this is more a basset thing or do all breeds have this? __________________ In loving memory of my Jasmine our Lab/Shep mix (died age 15) and Sgt. Copper our Beagle (died age 5). Currently owned by DaisyMae (Basset Artesian Norman age 9), Jasmine II & Buster Bleu (Beagle Huskey mix litter mates age 5), Holly (Schillerstovare Hound age 3), Cpt. Morgan (Basset Hound age 1 1/2) ... All rescues! and our Umbrella Cockatoo Sophia (age 8) ... also a rescue. Visit My Website

03-30-2005, 10:01 AM	#9 (permalink)
ashers4142 Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Pa Posts: 60	Re: Phantom Pregnancy My Bella is about 4 weeks into a false pregnancy too. My vet said it was wierd that it happened because she is so young (just turned 1 on the 17th). About what time could i expect her to start producing milk and do you reccomend anything for it to dry up faster? __________________ In loving memory of the best dogs ever~ BJ (4/15/00- 8/21/06) and Bernard (6/29/91- 1/15/03) Mommy to BJ (Jersey Devil O'Shay)ATB, Bella (Chasans Bella Notte) and Dixie Rose, the rescue from the SPCA.

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