La pseudopregnancy or psychological pregnancy it is a common phenomenon in the canine world; 6 out of 10 non-stylized bitches go through it. It is a hormonal imbalance characterized by the appearance of pregnancy symptoms in the animal, and although it is not a disease, it requires some special attention to prevent it from becoming a major problem.
What is pseudopregnancy?
It is a hormonal disorder whose origin is found in a kind of survival mechanism. The ancestors of dogs, that is, wolves, use pseudopregnancy as a method to feed their puppies and thus increase their chances of getting ahead. Thus, any female in the herd can feed the young even if she is not their biological mother.
El psychological pregnancy it takes place about two months after ovulation that does not end in gestation. When the period of the estrous cycle, commonly known as heat, ends, the right-hander begins, which lasts around two months (the same as gestation or pregnancy). During this last phase the body of the bitch produces a hormone called prolactin, responsible for symptoms such as breast enlargement and milk production.
Main symptoms
This mismatch implies certain physical and psychological changes, although it does not have to occur all of them:
- Bulging abdomen
- Swelling of the breasts
- Production of milk or serous fluid.
- Vulvar discharge
- Irritability.
- Loss of appetite
- Apathy.
- Nervousness and / or insecurity.
- Frequent whining
- Aggressiveness.
- Maternal behaviors. For example, treat your toys like your own puppies.
Over time, all of this can lead to serious problems such as mastitis, a painful infection caused by blocked milk ducts. Therefore, it is essential to quickly go to a veterinarian if we observe these symptoms. He will know how to recommend the appropriate treatment and will inform us about castration, which would be the definitive solution.