Doggie advice please - my bitch is producing milk!

[shortcake]

OUr 18 month lab is producing milk - we noticed it today - it was dripping on the floor. It only seems to be one nipple. She was in season at the end of september and we were very careful with her - pretty sure shes not pregnant - so is this normal???

sounds like a false pregnancy. Not a problem, make sure she doesnt suckle herself and make it worse. make sure teats not hot or swollen, otherwise it will just stop by itself.

If it doesn't stop by itself the vet can give her an injection.

When I was 13 or 14 and my parents were away my dog had a phantom pg - made a nest in the cupboard under the stairs and appeared to be in labour - I was petrified! She was about 2 I think and hadn't had pups yet.

Our family pet had many a phantom pregnancy, she used to 'go into labour', she'd make nests, she even used to mother select cuddly toys and regurgitate food for them bless her. I would speak to a vet about it as I am sure something could be done these days.

You don't also have a cat do you? Our red setters used to suckle the cats. Had to keep them apart for weeks until the milk dried up!

You can do something-not an injection now but a course of liquid medicine called galastop but quite expensive and not needed for normal false preg-it will pass on its own. Try and change her routine as much as possible, take away fav soft toys etc, that will help.

the other thing you can do is have her speyed unless you intend to breed. If they have this once then tend to get it every time and gets worse each time usually. If you do want to get her speyed you will need to let the milk dry up first but have a word with your vet about timing if thats what you want.