Please help - dog having phantom pregnancy

[smallones]

Every time she comes into season, she has a phantom pregnancy (we are going to have her spayed, but she comes into season very close together, and takes a while to recover from phantom PG, so we seem to be in a vicious circle)

In the past, the vets have prescribed Galastop, which just make her very ill. A few months ago, she had mastitis, which made her really ill, and I'm worried she's headed in the same way.

She's still eating, and still enjoys her walks, but seems to be getting more depressed, and has started to produce loads of milk.

Someone recommended we feed her cooked pasta to stop milk production, but it's made no difference at all.

What can I do to stop the milk? How can I stop her from getting mastitis again?

Please help . The vets are recommending galastop again (which just makes her ill), and otherwise wait for her to get ill, then treat it, or see if she gets better by herself.

Galastop would be the drug of choice. Are you sure that's what's made her ill? If she's mothering toys try to put them somewhere she can't see or smell them. I also would always encourage lots of extra exercise. And get her spayed the instant her milk has gone.

She's had galastop 3 times, each time, the vets say to stop immediately if she's sick more than 3 times, and every time, she's been sick loads.

She's not mothering toys, just lying in her bed.

Is there anything else I can do to get rid of the milk?

try a bath, always snaps my dog out of it

Not at this stage of her cycle I'm afraid. Some vets advocate restricting water intake but I'm always uncomfortable with that. Really, lots and lots of exercise does seem to help settle them down - and one would assume milk production would drop accordingly. If we humans think we have it bad with hormones we should try being a bitch!

Thankyou
DH is taking her out now, I'll take her out later.
Fingers crossed it works!

Actually there is a drug on the market which I have never used but which may be of benefit - Durateston.

Another drug, Ovarid, is used in the US I think, and is available here, but it's a horrible drug and many practices won't even stock it. As it's not licensed for treatment of false pregnancies in this country I can't find any data sheet recommendations about false pregnancies, but your vet may be willing to contact the manufacturer's veterinary advisor for advice.

i really would strongly advise you try and ride it out, using Galastop but maybe at a low dose, and then get her spayed pronto.

have you thought about homeopathic/natural remedies?

off the top of my head i think sage dries up milk, and maybe milk thistle, but best to look into it.

I would take away anything she can treat like a puppy or carry around, then reduce her food and increase her exercise to as much as you/she can maanage, that will dry her milk up and also take her mind off things. I agree though, I would never restrict water intake.

It is really important to get her spayed ASAP, as there is some evidence to show that bitches who suffer recurrent phantoms are more likely to get pyometra.

I have had success with these bitches by neutering them quickly (2 weeks after season) before the phantom pregnancy develops I have also done this in bitches who cycle very fast around once every 6 weeks. There are increased risks to going so early, however, there are risks to not being able to neuter the bitch.