Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How common is false pregnancy in female dogs in Spain
By Falceto, Maria Victoria et al.·Published in Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene·2024·Department of Animal Pathology, Spain·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prevalence of pseudopregnancy in bitch attending a veterinary teaching hospital in Spain.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A female dog was diagnosed with pseudopregnancy, a condition that can occur after her heat cycle, leading to symptoms like behavioral changes, swollen breasts, and milk production. In a study, it was found that about 31% of female dogs at a veterinary hospital experienced this condition, often without owners realizing it. Most dogs showed improvement within about 16 days, even though treatments like cabergoline and metergoline are typically recommended for shorter periods. Owners are encouraged to be aware of the signs of pseudopregnancy to seek timely help for their pets.
People also search for: dog pseudopregnancy symptoms · female dog swollen breasts treatment · why is my dog acting strange after heat
Abstract
Pseudopregnancy (PSG) is one of the most common syndromes diagnosed after oestrous cycle in female dogs. We found a diagnosed prevalence of PSG at 30.81% among reproductive pathologies in bitch. Concentrated oestrous occurrences in spring and autumn influence PSG distribution. PSG onset is marked by behavioural changes, followed by physical signs (mammary enlargement and galactorrhea). The last oestrous-PSG onset interval ranged from 1 to 6 months (median = 3.0 months) and the median for the interval spaying-PSG onset was 7.0 days. Half of the cases were discharged after 16 days, surpassing recommended treatment periods for cabergoline (4-6 days) and metergoline (8 days). Although Elizabethan collars were recommended, actual compliance stood at two-thirds of cases. Our study highlights the possible underestimation of the PSG prevalence, probably due to lack of identification of clinical signs by owners. Further research is warranted to better understand possible risk factors, preventive measures or therapeutic options.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39396859/