What we should know in advance: Pseudopregnancy is not a disease, but a completely natural process in unneutered bitches.

To understand this process, we need to at least briefly look at the sexual cycle of a female dog, which is divided into four phases. A complete sexual cycle lasts on average 6 to 8 months. The heat intervals are influenced by factors such as the breed and size of the female dog and can vary greatly. There are female dogs that come into heat twice a year and others that only come into heat once a year. Smaller breeds often have shorter intervals.

Although the periods can vary greatly among dogs, an individual female dog has a fairly consistent heat interval.

Sexual Cycle of the Female Dog – The Four Phases

During this phase, the uterine lining is remodeled. The vulva is swollen. Typical bleeding occurs. The estrogen level gradually increases. 24 - 32 hours before ovulation, there is a sudden increase in the hormone progesterone and a drop in estrogen levels.

3rd estrus (3 – 12 days)

This is the phase that is generally known as standing heat or the “hot phase”. The tolerance reflex sets in, meaning that the bitch shows willingness to mate and is capable of fertilization.

4th  metestrus (9 to 12 weeks) 

From a hormonal point of view, every female dog after the heat, a female that has not been mated and is not pregnant is pseudo-pregnant. It is a completely natural process. Only the severity or conspicuousness of the symptoms varies greatly.

How does a pseudopregnant dog behave?

A pseudopregnant dog may behave like a pregnant dog due to the same hormone levels. They are often lethargic, sleep a lot and have a larger or sometimes smaller appetite. They may also be much more cuddly than usual or behave in other untypical ways.

Native breeds can start digging burrows when they have the opportunity. At home, they are busy building nests. Toys, slippers and anything else they can find are collected, guarded and used as replacement puppies. Unusually aggressive behavior is also possible, as the replacement puppies naturally have to be defended from the bitch's perspective.

The most noticeable physical sign of a false pregnancy is swelling of the teats and milk production.

Why do female dogs become pseudopregnant?

Nature has thought of something sensible with the pseudopregnancy. The phenomenon can be traced back to the ancestors of dogs. In a wolf pack, only the highest-ranking female wolf has puppies. Other female wolves in the pack who are not pregnant help her to care for the puppies. They can produce milk and act as wet nurses for the lead wolf's puppies. This even goes so far that the sexual cycles adjust to one another in time. They synchronize, so to speak, in order to be able to guarantee exactly this.

Even today, it can be observed that in multi-dog ownership, female dogs that live together in an intact group align their sexual cycles and come into heat at the same time.

What to do in case of false pregnancy?

You should not encourage your dog to be extra cautious during her false pregnancy. The best thing to do is to distract her: exercise, fresh air, and something to do. The “replacement puppies” should also be put away.

When milk is being produced, the bitch should neither lick the udder nor should you stroke or massage it, as this will further stimulate milk production.

Is a false pregnancy dangerous?

As mentioned at the beginning, a false pregnancy is primarily natural and normal. In most cases, the symptoms disappear on their own within two to three weeks during the course of the dog's normal hormonal cycle.

However, if the symptoms are severe and the dog is suffering greatly, a veterinarian should be consulted. In such cases, so-called prolactin inhibitors can be prescribed to alleviate the symptoms or support hormonal balance. Herbal remedies such as chasteberry can also help your dog.

Castration in case of false pregnancy – yes or no?

For health reasons and in serious cases, castration can be considered. However, this is a decision that should always be weighed up individually and made with experts. Since castration significantly interferes with the hormonal balance and this influences development and behavior, castration should under no circumstances be carried out before the animal has fully developed physical and psychological maturity.

If castration is considered, it should definitely be done during the phase of hormonal rest (anestrus).