My dog gained weight after heat. Is it false pregnancy or another issue?

Usually change in behaviour, swollen mammary gland with milk production, loss of appetite (rarely with consistent weight gain or loss), symptoms of mothering activity, nesting, and self-nursing. Bella's problem seems slightly different. If weight loss is more than 10-15 % of total body weight a check up at your local vets is needed.

No, the stomach shouldn't be swollen as a result of being in heat. If Milani's abdomen is swollen, she dog may be pregnant, or could be experiencing a false pregnancy which can cause many of the same symptoms including enlarged nipples and mammary glands. The stomach could also be swollen for some unrelated reason, such as intestinal parasites or even fluid in the abdomen due to a heart problem, liver disease, or a tumor. I would recommend having Milani checked by a vet to help determine what is going on - he/she can palpate her belly to see if anything feels abnormal, and may also need to do x-rays or ultrasound to diagnose the problem.

Since your dog was recently in heat and is now showing signs of illness I would recommend having her checked out by your veterinarian as soon as possible. She may be pregnant, having another false pregnancy, or may have a life-threatening infection in her uterus called pyometra. Hopefully she is fine but I would have her checked out to be on the safe side. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

She may be having a false pregnancy. If she had contact with a male while she was in heat, she could be pregnant. She could also have a hormonal problem or a mammary tumor. It would be best to take her to a veterinarian for an exam. The vet can also tell you whether she is pregnant. Unfortunately this is impossible without a hands-on exam.

Hello. A dog should not put on weight just from one meal, but if it was a fatty one, she might show some distention from gas. Since she is an older girl, it might be a good idea to have her looked at by your veterinarian to see if she is indeed pregnant. An x-ray or ultrasound would show the appearance of any fetuses in her uterus & give a heads up if she were to run into any difficulties once she goes into labor. This is the best way to make sure all is OK, & if she is pregnant, that there are no complications that could result in her death. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

The timing and symptoms could point to a false pregnancy. Have a examined by your veterinarian for confirmation. Treatment is typically not required in mild cases. Symptoms should abate within 2-3 weeks. If they don't or her behavior worsens, your vet can dispense medications to decrease milk production and possibly tranquilizers/sedatives for anxiety. Severe cases can be treated with hormone replacement therapy. To prevent​ future episodes, having her spayed would be the recommended course of action.

Yes if she didn’t get bred she could be having a false pregnancy. If you don’t plan to breed her I do recommend having her spayed. Dogs that have irregular heat cycles and false pregnancies can get uterine infections that can be very serious and need emergency treatment and spaying. Also the constant hormonal ups and downs make dogs moody and may be a factor in developing breast cancer sometimes later in life. A false pregnancy can last the nine weeks of a normal pregnancy then she should get over it a week or two after that. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Lily.