False Pregnancy in Female Dogs

At some point in their lives, some female dogs undergo what is known as false pregnancy. This involves a dog believing it is pregnant and exhibiting behaviors that can be debilitating. This issue typically arises in connection with the estrus cycle and can impact both physically and psychologically.

False pregnancy is a condition that results from a lack of hormone regulation after the estrus cycle and is not actually a disease, but a state of mind that can significantly disrupt daily life for both the female dogs and their human families.

The Cause of False Pregnancy

In nature, when comparing to a wolf pack, the strongest female, also known as the alpha female, is the only one in the pack allowed to give birth to puppies. Thus, there is only one female who naturally produces milk and can rear puppies. If something happens to the alpha female in the wild, there may be a need for other females in the pack to step in.

Here, it is a great advantage if there are females experiencing false pregnancies, where hormones prepare them to rear puppies. Milk can be produced, and maternal instincts are activated. This is a way for the wolf pack as a whole to best ensure survival and the arrival of new, healthy, and strong puppies.

Thus, this has significant importance in the wolf pack, and consequently, this hormonal imbalance, which is essentially what it is, has been carried over to the family dog and domesticated female dogs, activating this hormonal imbalance.

Diagnosing False Pregnancy

False pregnancy can be difficult to diagnose physically. It will therefore be a dialogue and conversation with the vet, where you as the owner describe what you observe in terms of behavioral changes, correlated with the knowledge you have about your dog’s cycle.

Treatment of False Pregnancy

Normally, a false pregnancy will resolve itself over time, provided there are no puppies nearby, and the prognosis for your dog’s future is quite good, even if it experiences a false pregnancy. However, for some female dogs, a false pregnancy can be a very difficult time with associated behavioral problems. Some may lose their appetite, become somewhat aggressive, or even depressed.

However, there is prescription medication available, which you can administer to your dog in consultation with the vet if she is experiencing a false pregnancy. This medication reduces milk production and helps restore hormonal balance. Whether with medical treatment or not, the prognosis for a female dog experiencing a false pregnancy is good and complete.

Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.