my girl was mated 35 and 40 days ago she has been scanned twice but is NOT pregnant, she has started to gain some weight even the vet said she looked podgy the weight gain is at her back end and around her ribs her belly and nipples havent changed!!
can a phamton cause the weight gain she has the same amount of food and exercie she has always had, her apetite has increased and she is always looking for food where propr to mating she was always very fussy!! what else could cause this sudden weight gain? many thanks

I would expect as with all of us when we have a bitch in whelp we feed them foods higher in proteins, you say that she is eating he same amount of food, but her appetite has increased so I guess you have been giving her extra even if only puppy food and extra top ups, as there are no pups her food resources have not been drained so any extra protein foods will put weight on instead, weight can go on in all different places, IME the back end is usually the first place to show weight gain and loss.

Bitches that do have phantoms may put weight on and can have varying degrees of looking in whelp some have swollen teats, etc and  many also producing milk.

Really don't wish to put your hopes up, I feel quite cruel in saying this as I know from your other post you have accepted no pregnancy, but is the vet absolutely sure she is not in whelp, they have made mistakes before. Is it worth a second opinion?

If you are sure, then just keep up her exercise, maybe give her some extra as if she does bring in milk it will also help to stop this and cut her food back a little to get her figure back.

Hi Ali,

I'm not sure what to say other than my bitch had drooping back boobs from around 3 weeks in and ever enlarging nipples. She didn't show much change in shape until around 35-42 days and now looks like a beached whale! We were scanned for 6 pups......................do they show more signs if more pups are present than those carrying just 1 pup? Do you suspect a puppy is hiding in there somewhere?

Also has been off her exercise since 10 days post mating :-O

thanks she is eating the same adult food that shes been on for a year or so, she goes back to her bowl an hour later for more which she never did before!!