She may become breathless and show nervous behaviour. She may carry shoes or teddies around the house and collect them in her bed. Such activities should be discouraged to prevent the prolonging of the false pregnancy. She may even strain as if she is producing a litter. Once a bitch has had a false pregnancy they may become more severe after each season.
Bitches having a false pregnancy are capable of nursing a litter of puppies.
A false pregnancy is quite normal and thus serves its purpose in the wild as the bitch can keep the puppies alive from a bitch that has died. Less milk will be produced if the carbohydrate and water is reduced somewhat and it is advisable to increase her exercise. If the signs are quite severe a course of hormone tablets or injection may help, it may be necessary to bathe the mammary glands to help reabsorb the milk. It may be necessary to have the bitch spayed to prevent her having a false pregnancy at all. Pyometra An accumulation of fluid in the uterus usually occurs 1-2 months after a season.