 Some female dogs (bitches) fail to go out of their heat cycles correctly. This causes a condition we call 'false pregnancy.' Even though the bitch may not have mated with a male dog, her body believes it is pregnant due to some incorrect hormonal stimulations that it is receiving.
False pregnancy occurs 60-80 days after the bitch was in heat, about the time a pregnant bitch would give birth. (Pregnancy in a dog lasts about 63 days.) A dog experiencing a false pregnancy may have some abdominal swelling and/or engorgement of the mammary glands which can be painful. In some cases, the bitch will actually produce milk, make a nest, and even collect socks or toys and hold them against her breasts. Bitches undergoing false heats generally do not experience serious long-term problems, since the behavior disappears when the circulating hormones return to their appropriate levels. However, some bitches may have a false pregnancy with each heat.
One of the advantages of spaying your dog is that you can eliminate the possibility of this condition occurring.
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