Bitches and Fake pregnancy
- Thread starter Snowman
- Start date
Black_Unicorn
Citizen of Zooville
Yes it happened to me too with my bitch. I have also had it happen with the Alpacas and Goats after having sex with them.
In researching the phenomenon I found it is more likely in dogs as the Alphas are the only ones to breed but others may lactate to help feed the pups. In some bitches just coming into heat can trigger a false pregnancy. Others the stimulation of sex can trigger a false pregnancy.
There might be a hormone injection to use after her heat cycle to shut down a false pregnancy.
In researching the phenomenon I found it is more likely in dogs as the Alphas are the only ones to breed but others may lactate to help feed the pups. In some bitches just coming into heat can trigger a false pregnancy. Others the stimulation of sex can trigger a false pregnancy.
There might be a hormone injection to use after her heat cycle to shut down a false pregnancy.
SigmaTheZeta
Esteemed Citizen of ZV
Keep checking in with your veterinarian to make sure that your bitch is not developing pyometra. @1000extra helped explain this one to us.
Hey, Aussie vet person! If you are still around, can you help explain this again?
Hey, Aussie vet person! If you are still around, can you help explain this again?
Snowman
Zooville Settler
I googled it
I had blood samples taken last moth and there were no signs of anything happening.
Her last heat cycle was last feb/mar so i expect next one will be close to xmas
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chrispbacon
Tourist
There's this bitch in my neighborhood that always had a fake pregnancy after she was in heat, their plan was to fix her but im not sure if they did it already.
Yikes i wonder if she actually had this.
SigmaTheZeta
Esteemed Citizen of ZV
Don't panic just yet. It's something that happens in midlife to old age after a lifetime of hormonal abnormalities, especially in bitches that never have puppies. If caught early, then it is profoundly treatable. If you catch it early, it is not really more problematic than a conventional spaying procedure. As a zoophile, you are presumably doing routine oral sex. You will be able to literally TASTE if something is up.
If @1000extra or any other licensed veterinarian contradicts me, then what they said. I am speaking as a layperson to a fellow layperson.
M
Mickflare
Guest
that sounds really hot.
but also like a medical issue.
but also like a medical issue.
1000extra
Tourist
I am personally unaware that having sex with bitches during their heat cycle increases the incidence of false pregnancies. Good question though.
Some breeds are more prone to having falsies than others, and there is a possibility that it might run in the family, ie genetically predisposed.
The more noticeable risk with falsies is that lactation itself can predispose the bitch to developing mastitis and in my opinion, increase the risk of closed pyometra.
With open pyometra, you might notice a thick, red-brown smelly discharge from her vagina. She is also likely to be unwell and lethargic, off her food, having a fever, may have vomiting and/or diarrhoea. The difference between open and closed pyometra is whether the cervix is shut or not. Obviously, symptoms are worse and more severe in closed pyometra as the pus accumulates in the uterus, making her sicker.
If your girl develops a pyometra, the best option will be to spay her (and usually more expensive). Medical treatment of pyometra is time-consuming, costly and there a good chance she might develop pyometra again if she does not conceive in her next heat cycle. I would not recommend medical treatment unless you know what you are getting into.
It is found in literature that in intact bitches, incidence of pyometra is found to be approximately 15.2% by 4 years old and 24% by 10 years old (Root Kustritz 2007)
That is the sad reality about intact bitches. I suggest having an ovary-sparring spay (OSS) performed on her when she is young to try and eliminate this risk. She will still have functional ovaries and will still go into season but she is made sterile and unable to produce any puppies. You can still have sex with her during her heat cycle too and ejaculate inside her without worrying about contaminating her non-existent uterus.
Some breeds are more prone to having falsies than others, and there is a possibility that it might run in the family, ie genetically predisposed.
The more noticeable risk with falsies is that lactation itself can predispose the bitch to developing mastitis and in my opinion, increase the risk of closed pyometra.
With open pyometra, you might notice a thick, red-brown smelly discharge from her vagina. She is also likely to be unwell and lethargic, off her food, having a fever, may have vomiting and/or diarrhoea. The difference between open and closed pyometra is whether the cervix is shut or not. Obviously, symptoms are worse and more severe in closed pyometra as the pus accumulates in the uterus, making her sicker.
If your girl develops a pyometra, the best option will be to spay her (and usually more expensive). Medical treatment of pyometra is time-consuming, costly and there a good chance she might develop pyometra again if she does not conceive in her next heat cycle. I would not recommend medical treatment unless you know what you are getting into.
It is found in literature that in intact bitches, incidence of pyometra is found to be approximately 15.2% by 4 years old and 24% by 10 years old (Root Kustritz 2007)
That is the sad reality about intact bitches. I suggest having an ovary-sparring spay (OSS) performed on her when she is young to try and eliminate this risk. She will still have functional ovaries and will still go into season but she is made sterile and unable to produce any puppies. You can still have sex with her during her heat cycle too and ejaculate inside her without worrying about contaminating her non-existent uterus.
Snowman
Zooville Settler
Never seen that thick brown smelly discharge, very rarely i have noticed clear discharge like cum but that is like 3 times last 4 years i have had her and it was not during heat.
Some times i have seen brownish discharge during heat but then it usually becomes clear and i have asked my vet about that and she said it was normal and i should just make sure she has no fever with that.
At the moment she has never been better is active good appetite and is tolerant of most big male dogs which she use to chase away before.
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HoundDogRuffDog
Tourist
My childhood dog had a fake pregnancy after every heat cycle and she for sure had never had sex in her life.
It's a hormonal thing and some bitches are just more prone to it than others.
You should check with your vet if this keeps on going - it can't be very good for her..
It's a hormonal thing and some bitches are just more prone to it than others.
You should check with your vet if this keeps on going - it can't be very good for her..
l3w5
Tourist
Fake pregnancy is, on average, normal for canine females.
We also regularly observe these processes in wild canids, in control groups.
It is difficult to say whether sexual intercourse stimulates the development of Fake pregnancy, but there is no clear pattern. At the moment, we do not have enough data.
You can balance the process by working with nutrition and physical activity. Of course, a lot depends on the particular animal, but on average, it works well. It also works with wolves and coyotes.
We also regularly observe these processes in wild canids, in control groups.
It is difficult to say whether sexual intercourse stimulates the development of Fake pregnancy, but there is no clear pattern. At the moment, we do not have enough data.
You can balance the process by working with nutrition and physical activity. Of course, a lot depends on the particular animal, but on average, it works well. It also works with wolves and coyotes.
This is not always correct, even when it comes to wolves. When it comes to domestic dogs, everything is superbly dependent on the habitat. And from the socialization of animals. This is a separate, very difficult discussion.
KendallRae
Tourist
Spaying is detrimental to the health of dogs. I would never do it unless there was a medical reason. "Something might happen" is not a reason to remove organs.
Kazegami
Citizen of Zooville
My girl would have these every time after her heats, even the few times we hadn't played during her heat. She would try to make a nest and mother toys, shoes, etc... squeaky toys seemed to make it last longer. She did need antibiotics a couple times due to a smelly discharge, but it never went past that... keep and eye on it, but also keep in mind many vets push spays for any ol reason.
nekdoneco123
Esteemed Citizen of ZV
my girl is like that too... when she was around 2 she started having false pregnancies every heat. now she's 6 without any for two heats in a row... fingers crossed she won't have any anymore. your too.
i've read somewhere it's a trait they inherited from wolves. usually only one female in the pack bears pups, but multiple produce milk and can substitute the mother when she eats, hunts or gets sick.