I have an 11 month old bitch who is having a phantom, slightly enlarged nipples and loose underneath.

Her first season ended 5 weeks ago.

Does anyone have any suggestions of what I can do? Should I do anything? Does this lead to other health/fertility issues?

This is the first time I have experienced this with a bitch and would appreciate some sound advice and knowledgeable views.

Thanks

Just up the exercise and reduce the food intake, take all soft toys away and let her work through it. It will not effect any future matings.
Aileen

Phantom pregnancy is the NORMAL condition for a bitch after a season.

This would enable her to help feed puppies produced by the alpha bitch in the wild.

So unless she is showing undesireable behaviours (guardign toys, nesting etc) tehn do nothing other than up excersise and if she is well covered reduce food a little.

I agree with all that has been said.  When people say they have  a bitch that has never had a phantom I always assume it was mild and the owner never noticed.  I once adopted a bitch when her owner died.  The family were amazed when I said she'd had a phantom - they said it had never happened before.  Yet she had one every single season until I got her spayed.  I do think it's pretty normal.

People with multi dog households like mine will often see, after a litter has been born, that other bitches come into milk.  If she is feeling forlorn steel yourself against encouraging the phantom to last.  Give her extra walks and "jolly" her along.  If she produces milk definitely reduce food so she will not have it for long.

Thank you everyone. Thinking back, her mother did this after her first season but then it didn't happen consequently (or I didn't notice).

If I up the exercise, presumably it is okay to swim her?

Thanks again.

> presumably it is okay to swim her?

If it's normal for this bitch to swim, I don't see why not.

Yes she's a gundog and swims regularly.

Thank you :)