Depressed Dog Thinks She’s Pregnant—Then Meets Real Puppies and Everything Changes
It’s natural to feel heartbroken as a dog owner when your furry friend doesn’t look okay. This is exactly what Kate Cutler felt recently when her lovely American XL Bully, Khaleesi, had a phantom pregnancy that made her lose her spark completely. (Watch the video below)
Khaleesi — a certified goofy girl — suddenly became withdrawn and depressed, and she’d spent most of her time hiding under beds as she prepared for nesting. Even though the pregnancy wasn’t real, Khaleesi believed it was because of the way her body was behaving.
@katecutler Proof that not all dogs are bad #phantompregnancy #puppylife #auntieduties ♬ Manifestation – Perfect, so dystopian
“My dog was having an awful phantom pregnancy. She was nesting under beds preparing to have puppies, but she wasn’t pregnant,” Kate heartbreakingly captioned in an emotional video posted on her TikTok account @katecutler.
Kate knew she had to do something to help Khaleesi come out of her phantom pregnancy and feel like herself again. Since her sister’s dog had just given birth to four puppies, Kate decided to introduce Khaleesi to the newborn litter of puppies.
To her surprise, this idea worked. Khaleesi instantly lit up when she met the puppies. Her playful side came alive whenever she was around the newborns, and she happily nurtured them when the mother dog was on a break. And just like that, Khaleesi was back to being the lively dog she’s always been, all thanks to this mothering opportunity.
“The moment she met the babies her phantom pregnancy stopped and the fun began,” Kate wrote.
What Is Phantom Pregnancy in Dogs?
Phantom pregnancy — also referred to as “false pregnancy”, “pseudo-pregnancy”, or “pseudocyesis” — is a condition where an unspayed female dog displays physical and behavioural signs of pregnancy even though they aren’t pregnant.
Research shows that phantom pregnancy mostly manifests 6-8 weeks after the end of a dog’s heat cycle. Furthermore, these research findings reveal that pseudopregnancy occurs in 50-75% of unspayed female dogs.
What Causes Phantom Pregnancy in Dogs?
Phantom pregnancy is common in unspayed females because of the hormonal fluctuations that occur when a dog is on heat (estrus). During the heat cycle, a dog’s body releases different pregnancy-related hormones to prepare the body for pregnancy. These hormones are released regardless of whether the unspayed dog has mated or not.
If the dog is indeed pregnant, these hormonal changes will persist throughout the pregnancy. But if the dog didn’t get pregnant, the hormone levels will begin to decline shortly after their heat cycle ends. However, for some non-pregnant dogs, these hormones may still be at peak levels even when they’re not in heat. In this case, the high hormonal levels will trigger a false pregnancy.
“Phantom pregnancy in dogs, also called pseudopregnancy, is a hormonal condition where a non-pregnant female exhibits signs of pregnancy such as nesting, swollen mammary glands, milk production, and behavioural changes. It occurs after heat cycles due to hormonal imbalances. Symptoms usually resolve naturally but may require veterinary attention if severe,” the veterinarian team at Prystal Vet Surgeons explains.
While phantom pregnancy in dogs is generally considered non-life-threatening, study findings published in the Veterinary Information Network show that dogs with repeated episodes of phantom pregnancy are at greater risk of developing mammary tumors.
Symptoms of Phantom Pregnancy in Dogs
The common clinical signs of phantom pregnancy in dogs include:
- Lack of appetite
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Lack of interest in play/activity
- Restlessness & aggressive behaviors
- Swollen mammary glands
- Excessive licking of the mammary glands
- Milk production from the mammary glands
- Nursing behaviors. For instance, the dog may become attached and possessive toward particular toys or other small objects (you’ll see them mothering these objects).
- Nesting behavior (you may notice her constantly digging inside her bed and moving bedding around)
The severity and duration of these symptoms vary from dog to dog. Usually, most dogs show signs for about 2- 3 weeks.
“My dog went through that after her second heat…she had a dramatic behavior change during phantom pregnancy: unpredictable or aggressive towards unfamiliar dogs when she’s normally quite social, carrying around toys, whining, and denning….once it ended (2 weeks), she went back to normal, thankfully,” one user commented in a Reddit discussion on phantom pregnancy in dogs.
“My dog did this two or three times a year until I got her fixed. It was a nightmare, she would hide and not eat for up to three days at a time. She was aggressive toward everyone and bit anyone who came near,” a second user added.
Phantom Pregnancy in Dogs Treatment
According to Dr. Wendy Brooks of the Veterinary Information Network, mild symptoms of pseudopregnancy in dogs usually disappear within three weeks, so no treatment is needed for mild cases. However, in severe cases, these symptoms can last several weeks. In this case, medication will be required to fix your dog’s hormonal imbalance and, ultimately, resolve the pseudopregnancy.
Spaying your dog will permanently prevent future episodes of pseudopregnancy. Dr. Brooks recommends spaying after the pseudopregnancy has resolved, not when it’s still ongoing. According to Dr. Brooks, spaying when your dog is still experiencing a false pregnancy can prolong the symptoms.
Phantom Pregnancy in Dogs FAQs
How long does a phantom pregnancy in dogs last?
Normally, symptoms of phantom pregnancy in dogs last 2-3 weeks.
Phantom pregnancy in dogs after spaying
Spaying is the surest way to prevent your dog from having any more pseudo pregnancies in their lifetime.
Is phantom pregnancy in dogs dangerous?
Generally, phantom pregnancy isn’t life-threatening to dogs. However, research shows that unspayed dogs with repeated pseudopregnancies are at a greater risk of mammary tumors.
How common are phantom pregnancies in dogs?
According to research, phantom pregnancy occurs in 50-75% of unspayed female dogs.
Do dogs produce milk in phantom pregnancy?
Yes, it’s common for dogs with a phantom pregnancy to release milk secretions from their mammary glands.
