Can A Female Have A Psychological Pregnancy?

When we hear the term psychological pregnancy, we can believe that it is something that only happens to humans, as we always relate it to emotions and thoughts. However, to the surprise of many, this is something that can also happen to bitches.

Today we are going to talk about what a psychological pregnancy is, how and why bitches develop it and if there is any way to prevent it.

What is a Psychological Pregnancy

Psychological pregnancy is not a disease, as most people might think. It is a hormonal disorder that causes the same symptoms as a pregnancy, but without one.

Thus, even if the female is not pregnant, she may have a swollen belly, milk in her breasts, nausea and tiredness, just as if she were pregnant.

It is believed that psychological pregnancy in bitches is something instinctive and that it acts as a survival mechanism for the species, because if something happens to a mother bitch, another puppy could care for and nurse her puppies, keeping them alive.

In fact, this is still seen today in wolves. When the dominant wolf is pregnant, the other wolves in the pack show symptoms of pregnancy, so if something happens to the mother-to-be, any one of them can take responsibility for the cubs, thus preserving the species.

While we know that it is possible that this sense of alertness is not necessary in the case of domestic dogs, it is instinctive and therefore innate and will continue to happen.

Psychological Pregnancy Symptoms

The symptoms of psychological pregnancy are the same as those of a real pregnancy:

• breast augmentation
• breast milk
• Nausea
• “Take care” of toys and objects as if they were babies. Your dog can start using one of her stuffed animals as if it were a baby, protecting it, bringing it close to her breasts to feed it or not allowing anyone to get close to it. Even if you don’t notice other visible signs of a psychological pregnancy, this type of behavior will be a warning that should prompt you to take your pet to the vet.

Treatment of a psychological pregnancy

When you see signs that your dog is suffering from this hormonal problem, you should go to the vet without fail. An accumulation of milk in the breasts can cause mastitis, which will have possible complications and even behavioral disorders.

Therefore, the treatment will focus precisely on this sign. For this, the animal will be given an anti-lactogenic drug, which will reduce the generation of the hormone prolactin, which is what makes its breasts fill with milk.

If an accumulation of milk or mastitis has caused serious behavioral problems in the dog, she can be treated with anxiolytics, but remember, always under medical supervision. Never medicate your pet on your own.

There may be cases where the veterinarian does not find it convenient to carry out a treatment, but there are some steps that can be taken at home. For example:

• Avoid breast self-stimulation with the tongue. This can cause her to continue generating milk and, if the bitch does not yet have mastitis, she may develop one.
• Take out your toys until it passes. If your dog starts to see her toys as if they were her babies, take them away from her, as having them will only keep her subconscious feeding her psychological pregnancy and making her recovery take even longer.
• Increase exercise. Exercise helps the body to act correctly and will also keep your dog distracted, which can gradually make the symptoms disappear.

The most normal thing is that this hormonal imbalance, which leads bitches to have symptoms like those of a real pregnancy, lasts for three weeks. In the meantime, pet your pet, as although we know she is not really pregnant, she feels like a mom-to-be and needs your understanding.