Hi Forum,

I have a bitch who had a single mating and if caught on that day (accept it could be upto 4 days later) she will be at day 47 today.  I had her scanned on what would have been day 33 and my vet, my regular practice but not my regular vet, scanned a pregnant looking bitch but did not find any puppies.  Bitch is not maiden and stud dog proven but I know this can make no difference if they do or do not take but just wanted to point that out.  Never had a Phantom before so this is where I am seeking wise opinion!!!

Since day one she has showed relatively all the signs of pregnancy.  Started with pointed teats around end week four, not reddened but strangly all have turned mostly black, they were pink prior and all were pointing, soon after a bit of mammary tissue started and as of now and for the past two weeks she has a definite bar with most development first three pairs of teats.  She has not had sickness but never did when pregnant but has taken to turning her nose up at all food until mid-day which is no like her. 

She has filled out, not massive but enough losing her waist and has a lovely waddle when walking.  Most noticeably is the fact she is really clingy  to the point that she cries for my attention and a good old belly rub.  In the past 8 days she is now finding her nest, every underbed explored with determined scratching of the carpet to build her nest, just found her now lying under my bed in her cave!

I am considering another scan but wondered if I ought to wait to see a) if the phantom subsides a bit or indeed progresses and b) if a wait for an X ray a bit further along might be more beneficial, thinking that if it is a singleton I would need the xray to confirm this.

I must say, for a phantom this is incredibly realistic and I am now doubting the scan result which although at day 33 might have been only day 29?  Her vulva is slightly swollen and she has not had any discharge that I have seen but she is an incredibly clean bitch to the point it is often you do not even know she is in season but for my boy letting me know!

One thing, lots of posts on her about is she or isn't she pregnant and you never find out in some cases so I promise I will close this post with the outcome, either way, that will help other in my situation.

Thanks

If it was me, I'd be re-scanning. It's easy to sit and wait for the best result come day 63-65 but i'd personally want to know to rule out a phantom incase of an emergency during whelping. Scan, then X-ray for numbers :) Good luck.

Thanks for the response, I am going to try get a scan done today and see what's what, I am loath to sit to day 63 not least as I need to dig the whelping box out the shed lol, will keep you posted.

I had a bitch who had 4 phantoms, only after being mated, 3 lasted 5-6 weeks but the first one lasted 7weeks,I had started her daily worming and puppy food, it was to be my very long awaited first litter, the only difference when I finally got her pregnant was the symptoms were much slower to appear, one time I had mated her and my other bitch 3 days apart and took comparison pics and she developed much quicker than the one who actually was pregnant, later found out she ovulated very early.

I'd get her scanned again just so you know where you are, if not pregnant then drop her food intake, increase her exercise and stop any chances of nesting or collecting objects to mother or she will produce milk.

Let us know how you get on

Thanks Rhona, I have just booked an appointment for this afternoon for a second scan so hopefully I will know if I am dealing with a real or false pregnancy. Shall update this afternoon.

Well it is a very good phantom!  Her milk actually also came in today so timely for the second scan and still no puppies seen so we have to now sit and wait for it to ride it's course and  hope little lady is not suffering too much. Will just remain alert for D day just incase as do not want any surprises but doubtful I shall be getting any.

Thanks for the update, I found that literally overnight she would return to normal which was a shock the first time as I was sure she was pregnant.

:( I'm sorry it's not the result we all hope for.