Pseudopregnancy in Spayed Bitch

[funkylad20]

We have had our 11 month old Pug X Jack Russell spayed last week. On taking her back to the vets with a few worries (sore wound, bloated mammary glands) it turns out she is have a pseudo/phantom pregnancy.
Having googled this and read up, there is no/little information on spayed bitches experiencing this, only complete bitches.
Can someone shed any light? Has anyone else experienced this? Do you think she may have been pregnant before the spaying (very slim chance but could have happened) and the vet has failed to inform us of this?

[kita1]

When you went back to the vet what did he/she suggest?

Did they give you any medication?

Do you have to go back?

Sorry for all the questions but it will give a clearer picture of what is going on.

[lankeela]

False pregnancies usually occur about 8 or 9 weeks after a season, when the bitch would be due to give birth if she was pregnant. If she was spayed halfway between season, presuming she had her first one sometime around 8 or 9 months, then this would be the time she would be thinking she had babies. Having only had her spayed last week this would not be enough time for the spaying to counteract the feelings she has of being a mum. Spaying will take away any future possibility of phantom pregnancies and also any possibility of pyometra and lessen any chance of mammary tumours.

[funkylad20]

Thanks for the detailed response Ian. This is what I was thinking but just thought it odd there is little on the net or in my old text books from college about phantoms in newly spayed bitches.
As for the vet, he said a hormone injection could be given if she is still lactating in a week. Not that impressed with the vets to be honest so will take her to my old vets in my parents village in future I think.
From a health point of view, she is not nesting or off her food or ill in any way, just a bit bigger and producing milk. Still terrorising one housemates old man of a terrier and my other housemates 4 cats, so no worries there! As I say, just very little text anywhere to read up on about this!

[kita1]

Found this info.

http://www.submityourarticle.com/articles/Alis on-Grimston-2656/phantom-pregnancy-in-dogs-222 20.php

This is also informative:

http://www.sniksnak.com/doghealth/false.html

especially the bit about spaying whilst having a false pregnancy (about half way down).

[lankeela]

I have my bitches jabbed to stop them coming into season, and the same jab, Delvosteron, can be used to relieve the symptoms of phantom pregnancy. I suppose it makes sense for the symptoms to continue if they are spayed during a phantom, as the body takes time to recover/revert to normal.

Interesting links kita, will save them for future reference!