false pregnancy

Question
My 10 mo. old rescued pit mix female was in heat from the 3rd wk. in January to about the 3rd wk. in February.  She actively bled that entire time.  As soon as she was done bleeding, she appeared to be pregnant.  Her nipples were enlarged while she was in heat and I understand that it is normal for nipples to not return to puppy size, but her belly is distended aslo.  Can dogs go into false pregnancy that soon after being in heat?

Answer

Hi Shelly,

Symptoms of a false pregnancy generally become noticeable 6 to 12 weeks after the heat cycle has ended. Are you absolutely positive that your dog did not mate, and is indeed pregnant? You may want to have your dog examined to rule out a pregnancy. Should she be pregnant, you can end the pregnancy if you catch it early and have your dog spayed so neither you or your dog will have to go through a pregnancy.

Mild cases of false pregnancy "self resolve" within 3 weeks, without any treatment. If your dog has symptoms longer than that, she should be examined by your vet. She may need medication or hormonal treatment.

There are some conditions other than an actual pregnancy that can cause similar symptoms to a false pregnancy. These could include: Mastitis (inflammation of the mammary glands), cancer of the mammary gland or abdominal enlargement due to fluid accumulation, organ enlargement or infection of the uterus (Pyometra). Your veterinarian would need to examine your dog to make sure that she is healthy. If your dog starts to refuse food, acts lethargic, vomits, acts depressed or you notice vaginal discharge (particularly one that is cloudy and foul-smelling), call your veterinarian as soon as possible. These may be signs of uterine infection, which is a serious and life-threatening condition.

Once whatever condition your dog is currently experiencing has resolved, it would be a really good thing to have her spayed. Though a dog gets the most health benefits from being spayed before the onset of her first heat cycle, she can still get significant health benefits from being spayed now.

Best of luck,
Patti