Following on from my last post (spaying advice needed) I am now on the sniff for more info on phantom pregancy. Ive read old threads on it but what 's happend with Molly is i booked her in to be spayed 11 weeks after her first season, vet has done the op and now she is having a phantom. Its my first dog, but after reading old threads i now realise that is common for a bitch to have a phantom after a season. My ususal vet didnt do the op he was away (someone else in the same practice did) but i feel annoyed that she was'nt checked out for this before surgery - because her boobs were swollen before hand. But i thought this was perfectly NORMAL and was just growing boobs like us girls do when we come into puberty. I now realise she was having a phantom and she's been spayed in the middle of it.What will happen regarding this? How long do phantoms generally last? i am cutting her food down a bit and increasing exercise but cos she's just had an op 6 days ago i cant go mad with that.

She seems to be going the whole hog milk filled teats pawing at the ground crying and hiding in corners and guading toys. Obviously iver emoved the toys and am trying to treat her normally.Thanks Debbie

Hi Deb,

Poor you and Molly. You sound pretty clued up on it all - everything you have said is what I did whe Lou had her phantom. I recommended a hot water bottle in your last thread but thinking about it if she starts to mother it you will have to take that away too. Its pretty tough isnt it taking toys off your already sorry for herself girl? Perhaps she might like a change in scenery - a slow lead walk in the park and a sit on the bench with you watching things go by. I heared it was the protein in her diet that you need to cut down.
Lou lost her pups at 7 weeks and had to have a c-section to scoop them out so she was pretty "hormonally imbalanced" and very nervy, wouldnt eat and mothering shoes and bits of chain!! The vet put her on anti-depressants for a while and that seemed to sort her out.
Hope things settle down for you soon, Aimi x

Thanks Aimee for the kind words, i have been taking down to the park every day for some gentle walks. The funny thing is she is great whilst we are out, she seems to be her old self but as soon as we get back its back to going in corners and pawing at the ground and whinging. My main concern is her not eating - me and my hubby have a difference on opinion on this: he says not to offer anything unusal and she will eat when she is ready. But i feel that because she is exisiting on nothing i should try and tempt her with something different? Everyone on here says to cut down on protein ( whichbis being done cos she is not eating anyway!) but what sort of food should i be giving her?

Hi Deb...have PM'd you. Sorry I missed your original thread when you were most in need of help :(
You don't have to take all her toys away - just the ones you see her getting 'attached' to. Rotate the toys too so she doesn't get the chance to begin 'guarding' them. I once took my slipper off and gave it to my girl as a 'temporary' distraction and then retrieved it before I could see a point of no return ;) Husbands' smelly socks worked for a bit too !
Some gentle training sessions on a little and often basis can help with the distractions too. Hiding kibble taken from her daily allowance inside an upturned paper cup etc.
The tip 'sitting in the park'  watching the world go by is a good one too! As has also already been said. You seem pretty clued up - you've had her checked at the vets twice - so I would just let nature takes its course and continue trusting your own judgement on her progress.
You're a worried 'mum' doing the best for your girl and she'll be fine as I'm sure the post OP appointment tomorrow will indicate ;)
Take care
Jo

ps Her 'boobs' will reduce afterwards, but not to the extent they were pre phantom and... 'natural puberty' as you correctly pointed out ;)

Hi Jo have pm you back. Did Rosie go through a phantom too?

All,
my main concern is how long do you thinnk she will be off her food for and how long so phantom pregancies last?

sent you a pm

Thnkk you for your lovely message Aimi, have pm you back.

Hi Deb,

I know what you are going through - Grace is the queen of phantoms!

You are doing everything right - usual advice is to reduce their food intake (also their water but I don't like doing this).  Extra exercise works well for Grace but if she has just been spayed you'll be a bit hampered there.

You can bathe her with an epsom salts solution - will look up the quantity for you.

Grace's appetite always went through the roof with phantoms but this time around she went anorexic, they are very temperamental these girls!  Grace has been given Galastop in the past for her phantoms and its does reduce the symptoms ok but having said this it did send her funny this time around and I'm not sure whether you can use it with a spayed bitch.

Not sure I can add anything else to the good advice on here but feel free to email, even if its only to commiserate over symptoms!

Kind Regards.

Ali.

Thanks for this Ali, i can cope with all the moping symptoms its the hungerstrike like you said thats the most worrying. Made her some stewed and kidney ( desperate for her to eat SOMETHING) last night mixed with her kibble - and she had a couple of mouthfuls ( the old Molly would have murdered it in secs) but i s'pose its a time thing and i just have to patient with her.
DEb