My dog is lactating but not pregnant. Is it safe to spay her now?

Unfortunately you can not stop the lactating. It will have to stop when the hormone level drops. When dogs are in a false pregnancy the spay has a higher risk of complications. The largest complication is extra bleeding. The blood vessels to the uterus and skin are very large when a dog is in heat or false pregnancy. The blood vessels get smaller after they cycle. Also the tissue is more friable and likely to tear. I find patients are more painful after surgery too. Hope that helps. If you have more questions you could always set up a pet coach consult

It's very unusual for a spayed female to suffer from a phantom pregnancy, i would strongly recommend to take her to the vet in order to get that checked, it may be a case of a remnant ovary or maybe it is an infection of the mammary glands.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Mira. If you are sure that she is not pregnant, then she is likely experiencing a phenomenon known as a false pregnancy. Most of the time, symptoms will resolve with in 2-3 weeks. However, this is likely to recur with subsequent heat cycles. If she is not going to be used for breeding, spaying her will prevent this in the future. If she is acting ill or her symptoms do not resolve, then she will need to see her veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

This would be quite soon for Lila to go into heat again, and I'm wondering if she possibly had contact with an intact male dog during her first heat. Her symptoms could be indicative of a pregnancy, but it could also be due to a false pregnancy. This is when a dog shows signs of being pregnant without actually being pregnant. I would have her seen by a vet tomorrow, who can confirm if she is pregnant or is experiencing a false pregnancy. As for spaying, should she be pregnant, she would be far along in her pregnancy that at this point, spaying may not be an option. If she is having a false pregnancy, yes she can be spayed but keep in mind that if there is an increased blood flow to her uterus, the surgery will cost a little more due to the increased risks. You can speak to your vet to find out the costs involved. I would recommend having her spayed if you can, however, as it will reduce her chance of developing mammary tumors later in life (she will have an 8% chance of developing them), and will eliminate the risk of developing a pyometra, which is a life threatening infection of the uterus. Take her into your vet tomorrow for an exam and a discussion. Good luck, I hope this helps!

[False pregnancy](https://www.petcoach.co/article/false-pregnancy-in-dogs), or pseudopregnancy, is a term used to describe a common condition in a non-pregnant female dog that is showing symptoms of [pregnancy](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/pregnancy/), lactation, or nursing, without producing puppies. The affected female dog shows these symptoms about a month or two after her estrus (heat) is over. A hormonal imbalance is thought to play a central role in affected female dogs. Depending on the severity of problem, the symptoms may last for more than a month. Unless symptoms persist, treatment is typically unnecessary. Otherwise, your veterinarian may recommend hormonal supplementation or spaying to prevent further episodes. To reduce mammary gland secretions, your veterinarian will advise you on using cold or warm packs to minimize the stimulation that promotes lactation. An Elizabethan collar (cone) can also help prevent the self-nursing or licking behavior that can stimulate lactation. In some patients, reducing the daily food intake can help to reduce the production of milk. If you are not planning to breed your dog and do not want her to reproduce in the future, [spaying](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-great-reasons-to-spay-or-neuter-your-pet) is recommended for preventing future episodes of false pregnancy behavior. The overall prognosis is good and most dogs improve within two to three weeks, even without treatment.

I'm not sure what the photo is if, it is unclear. If Gracie was in heat recently and you are sure she is not pregnant, she is probably experiencing a false pregnancy. This can occur 3-8 weeks following the completion of a heat cycle. It is a self limiting issue and symptoms usually resolve within a few weeks. Your dog would have mammary development, lactation and often show nesting behavior. If you are not 100% sure about her being pregnant or not, an exam with your vet would be a good idea. Also, continue to monitor for indications if a uterine infection which could include a thick discharge from the vulva, vomiting, excessive thirst and lethargy.

Two months following her Heat cycle is the exact time you would see these symptoms as that coincides with the timing she would be close to giving birth if she were pregnant. Normal pregnancy lasts 9 weeks or 63 days. If you are sure she is not pregnant, than she is likely having a false pregnancy and the symptoms can last for a few weeks.