false pregnancy woes

CTurtleGirl · 11-07-2005, 07:52 PM

My now one year old basset Scarlet started her first estrus at the beginning of august. She has been going through a false pregnancy now that doesn't seem like its going to end. After we got back from a trip in october (25) she started producing milk and she got mastitis in one breast. We took her to the vet since she had a 104 fever and got prescribed antibiotics and an anti inflamatory and pain reducer. She has finished that course but seems to still be producing alot of milk. It was recommended that the area with mastitis should be expressed and I have been doing that but the other mammories seem to be getting really full. I think the mastitis has cleared up but I don't know what to do about all this milk production. I was told that it would just stop with time when her hormones stabilize but I am not sure how long that will take. Has anyone had experience with this? If so how long did it take before they got back to normal? She is not fixed because she is participating in field trials but I do not intend to breed her. I know that hormone therapy is a last resort, when should I start thinking about that? Should I be expressing milk on a regulart basis, would that aleviate some of the symptoms? Thanks for any advice!

CTG

11-07-2005, 08:24 PM

You know, I know absolutely nothing about this, but it would seem to me that expressing her milk would stimulate her to produce more. Is there anything they can give her to help dry up her milk? Isn't this something they do with women who are not going to breast feed? (Something else I know nothing about.) Ok, I just realized I know nothing about anything ... hopefully someone can give some worthwhile advice.

Janet 'n Twink

CTurtleGirl · 11-07-2005, 11:59 PM

I think the advice the vet gave of expressing the milk from the infected mammory area was to aleviate the pressure but I am not sure. I just noticed that she is getting worse tonight so I am making an appointment with the vet again tommarow to hopefully look at different options. They can give a diuretic that dehydrates the dog therefore drying up the milk but I'm not quite sure how safe that is.

CTG

11-08-2005, 07:35 AM

Yes, a diuretic sounds like it might come with a whole set of its own troubles, doesn't it? I would be interested to know what the vet tells you. Please keep us informed and good luck to you and Ms. Scarlett.

Basset Momma · 11-08-2005, 08:22 AM

Well, in a human you could wrap them snug and there are medications to help dry up the milk... just not sure how to wrap a basset?? Give her a hug for me. Mastitis is no fun!

CTurtleGirl · 11-08-2005, 04:18 PM

The vet said pretty much the same as the last one. Let nature take its course on the whole false pregnancy thing. I guess when you start getting into hormone therapy things just get worse. She is back on antibiotics and a pain reliever/ anti inflamatory for the mastitis. He said that expressing is not necessary unless too much pressure is there. He said its kind of a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" kinda thing since expressing stimulates but it does relieve buildup. Hopefully this whole thing will be over with soon.

CTG

Soundtrack · 11-08-2005, 06:31 PM

I agree, express if you need to for the mastitis, otherwise avoid it since it will just make her produce more. My girls regularly have false pregnancies, though we've been fortunate not to have mastitis develop. We just let them take their course.

CTurtleGirl · 11-08-2005, 07:07 PM

So are false pregnancies common in the basset hound breed? I've talked to some basset breeders at events that have often mentioned frequent false pregnancies.

Basset Momma · 11-08-2005, 07:18 PM

Not sure if it would work with a dog- but warm packs or soaks help mastitis pain immensely. Poor love!

puttemanp · 11-13-2005, 02:20 AM

Our Bianca went through a false pregnancy just after her first heat, that also seemed to last forever.
She produced a lot of milk. After a month we decided to go to the vet as she too developed mastitis.

The vet prescribed a hormone treatment of just 6 days that stopped the milk production and cleared up the mastitis.

Patrick

11-07-2005, 07:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
CTurtleGirl Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 85	false pregnancy woes My now one year old basset Scarlet started her first estrus at the beginning of august. She has been going through a false pregnancy now that doesn't seem like its going to end. After we got back from a trip in october (25) she started producing milk and she got mastitis in one breast. We took her to the vet since she had a 104 fever and got prescribed antibiotics and an anti inflamatory and pain reducer. She has finished that course but seems to still be producing alot of milk. It was recommended that the area with mastitis should be expressed and I have been doing that but the other mammories seem to be getting really full. I think the mastitis has cleared up but I don't know what to do about all this milk production. I was told that it would just stop with time when her hormones stabilize but I am not sure how long that will take. Has anyone had experience with this? If so how long did it take before they got back to normal? She is not fixed because she is participating in field trials but I do not intend to breed her. I know that hormone therapy is a last resort, when should I start thinking about that? Should I be expressing milk on a regulart basis, would that aleviate some of the symptoms? Thanks for any advice! CTG

11-07-2005, 08:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
Twinkie's Mum Guest Posts: n/a	Re: false pregnancy woes You know, I know absolutely nothing about this, but it would seem to me that expressing her milk would stimulate her to produce more. Is there anything they can give her to help dry up her milk? Isn't this something they do with women who are not going to breast feed? (Something else I know nothing about.) Ok, I just realized I know nothing about anything ... hopefully someone can give some worthwhile advice. Janet 'n Twink

11-07-2005, 11:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
CTurtleGirl Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 85	Re: false pregnancy woes I think the advice the vet gave of expressing the milk from the infected mammory area was to aleviate the pressure but I am not sure. I just noticed that she is getting worse tonight so I am making an appointment with the vet again tommarow to hopefully look at different options. They can give a diuretic that dehydrates the dog therefore drying up the milk but I'm not quite sure how safe that is. CTG

11-08-2005, 07:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
Twinkie's Mum Guest Posts: n/a	Re: false pregnancy woes Yes, a diuretic sounds like it might come with a whole set of its own troubles, doesn't it? I would be interested to know what the vet tells you. Please keep us informed and good luck to you and Ms. Scarlett.

11-08-2005, 08:22 AM	#5 (permalink)
Basset Momma Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: West Texas Posts: 2,319	Re: false pregnancy woes Well, in a human you could wrap them snug and there are medications to help dry up the milk... just not sure how to wrap a basset?? Give her a hug for me. Mastitis is no fun! __________________ -Wendy Mom to Samantha, Jake, Cuddy, Frodo, & Indy

11-08-2005, 04:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
CTurtleGirl Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 85	Re: false pregnancy woes The vet said pretty much the same as the last one. Let nature take its course on the whole false pregnancy thing. I guess when you start getting into hormone therapy things just get worse. She is back on antibiotics and a pain reliever/ anti inflamatory for the mastitis. He said that expressing is not necessary unless too much pressure is there. He said its kind of a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" kinda thing since expressing stimulates but it does relieve buildup. Hopefully this whole thing will be over with soon. CTG

11-08-2005, 06:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
Soundtrack Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,356	Re: false pregnancy woes I agree, express if you need to for the mastitis, otherwise avoid it since it will just make her produce more. My girls regularly have false pregnancies, though we've been fortunate not to have mastitis develop. We just let them take their course. __________________ Rosie-Ch Soundtrack Cracklin' Rose CGN AGN RA Am RN TT Melody-Ch Soundtrack Unchained Melody TT Sailor-Ch Soundtrack Expedition Sailor RN TT Chili-Ch Soundtrack Spice Up Your Life Curry-Ch Soundtrack Canadian Brass Pepper-Ch Pennieslogon Living La Vida Loca CGN Vina-Ch Soundtrack Grand Illusion Leila-Ch Soundtrack Almost Paradise Deela-Ch Soundtrack Wink Of An Eye Hermione - Soundtrack Spellbound Eowyn - Soundtrack Rain Dance

11-08-2005, 07:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
CTurtleGirl Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 85	Re: false pregnancy woes So are false pregnancies common in the basset hound breed? I've talked to some basset breeders at events that have often mentioned frequent false pregnancies.

11-08-2005, 07:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
Basset Momma Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: West Texas Posts: 2,319	Re: false pregnancy woes Not sure if it would work with a dog- but warm packs or soaks help mastitis pain immensely. Poor love! __________________ -Wendy Mom to Samantha, Jake, Cuddy, Frodo, & Indy

11-13-2005, 02:20 AM	#10 (permalink)
puttemanp Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Brussels Posts: 325	Re: false pregnancy woes Our Bianca went through a false pregnancy just after her first heat, that also seemed to last forever. She produced a lot of milk. After a month we decided to go to the vet as she too developed mastitis. The vet prescribed a hormone treatment of just 6 days that stopped the milk production and cleared up the mastitis. Patrick

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