my dog is producing milk and no puppies!

Question
can my female of 2 yrs old produce milk with out having puppies? i have recently got a male of 8/9 weeks old. i thought she was producing milk for him. im lost and need help......

Answer

Hi Vivian,

Female dogs can experience a "false pregnancy" and actually produce milk for a litter she isn't carrying. The signs of false pregnancy usually occur 6 to 12 weeks after the dog's last heat cycle.

False pregnancy is caused by hormonal mechanisms that are poorly understood. In intact dogs, the reproductive system  goes through several stages on a regular basis. Hormonal changes, primarily decreases in progesterone and increases in Prolactin, are probably responsible for false pregnancies.
Some dogs that were spayed during the Diestrus phase of the heat cycle when Progesterone levels are high can have a false pregnancy even after they are spayed. Some dogs with Hypothyroidism
may have blood changes, which can cause stimulation of Prolactin. This can also cause symptoms associated with false pregnancy.

Most dogs will come out of the false pregnancy on their own, in two to three weeks without difficulty and without intervention. Do not stimulate your dog's mammary glands. Stimulation may increase swelling and milk production and increase the likelihood of problems such as inflammation of the mammary glands. Do not place compresses on your pet's mammary glands, if your dog is licking them she should be prevented from doing so.

If three weeks pass and your dog is still producing milk, you should have her examined by your vet. She may need medication to get the false pregnancy to stop. If your dog is not spayed, you should have her spayed. Recurrences of false pregnancy without spaying is common.

Best of luck,

Patti