Possible phantom pregnancy?

[Lizbiz89]

My little girl had her first heat 5 weeks ago and since then she's had swollen nipples. I didn't really pay too much attention to it at first because I thought it was just part of her being on heat, but they've stayed swollen ever since. Today I was giving her a belly rub and I noticed a couple of them were cracked and sore so I rang the vets to get her seen later today. Has anyone had this with their dog before? Does it sound like a phantom pregnancy?

My mum’s dog had this after her first season. Swollen nipples and as silly as it sounds she sort of had boobs if that makes sense? She was also generally a bit off and irritable and was digging what was essentially a bed in the soil in the garden to sit in as though she was nesting despite not being one for digging before. If I recall she was advised to remove toys/anything the dog might think was a pup and to reduce food slightly/exercise more. She was due to be spayed and the vet advice was that the symptoms needed to stop before they could proceed so that helped I think (less calories meant body not able to work overtime to support the phantom pregnancy). Definitely worth getting confirmed by the vet however.

@Calmamongthechaos thank you for the reply! Yes that's exactly how they feel! Like she has boobs. She hasn't really latched on to any toys but she has been slightly off her food and is sleeping more. Will see what the vets say.

Yep sounds like a phantom pregnancy. It will probably get worse before it gets better. About the time she would be due to give birth is worse 58 - 68 days after her fertile bit at the end of her season.

The vet will give you hints, tips and reassurance. Madam has done one after both of her seasons, we were so much better at handling it the second time.