hi

i have a black lab female, just over 10.5months old. she started bleeding from first heat 15th april. on the 22nd may, she stopped eating properly. by this i mean she used to woolf her food down and was a food monster, but now she wasn't eating all of her food, particularly biscuits. (she gets ped chum puppy tins, and eukanuba large breed). apart from the eating, she was otherwise normal. we were staying at the in-laws, and this was a particularly hot week.  so when we got back, we determined it wasn't because of the other dog we were staying with, or the hot weather that week, because she still wasn't eating properly.

we took her to a vet (not our regular), he said it could be a uterine infection but because it was so close to the heat, we should wait 2wks and see if things settle because she was still swollen down there..

we went up north again, and whilst there she had to have her anal glands expressed, so a visit to a different vet. whilst there, she also said that millie was having a phantom pregnancy (presence of milk) and she recommended galastop. we didn't take it because we wanted to see our regular and get a 3rd opinion (it was worrying we had 2different diagnoses).

2/3days later we saw our regular and he agreed and gave us galastop. i started treatment on wednesday and was told to expect quick shrinkage down there.. (ie 1/2days). however it's today and she's just as big there and nothing's changed in her behaviour.

she still doesn't eat properly (i either have to hand feed her, or she'll eat bits), she doesn't like eating the biscuits much at all, she sometimes whines when looking at her dinner. she's eating waay less than she 'should' (1tin maybe, barely any biscuits). she used to whine for a pee/poo, maybe if we get the lead out, but now she's whining quite regularly and we don't know why. she sleeps nearly 21hrs/day. and she's still swollen down there..

does anyone have any idea as to what's happenning?? wouldn't the galastop be having some effect by now?? im taking her again on monday, because the galastop will have run out by then (she's having 2.5ml/day, 25kg~ weight). if anyone has had any kind of similar experience or any idea what the vet may do next and how much this will cost, that'd be much appreciated. it's very frustrating looking at her and not being able to do anything, and not knowing whats going on.

many thanks....

ps moderator, i think ive posted this in the wrong section, could it be moved to health please?? thanks

I haven't any experience of Galastop, but have had minor phantoms with my bitch. 

I don't know how you are handling this, but make sure you don't make a fuss over it, treat her has normal and take her out on plenty of walks.  The food is a problem but she will get over it, and the walks should help increase her appetite.

Good Luck, let us know how you get on at the vets on Monday, try not to worry too much.

Sandra

Oh dear, both you and pup seem to be having a hard time.  I know just how you feel.  My Megan had a phantom every single season for 9 years, some worse than others. During the really severe phantoms I did use galastop, but it does take a little time to start to work, the later you leave before introducing it the longer it takes.  I prefered to wait until absolutely neccessary before using it, (basically until Megan was suckling herself and producing even more milk). Megan would be on Galastop for a week before symptoms started to subside, but it took another week or so to dissappear completely.  She also went off her food (picky at the best of times) got moody, depressed and was very possessive of toys etc.

Ignore the moods, stop mollycoddling her and try to keep everything as normal as possible.  One of the ways I found took Megans mind off it, was brainwork. Concentrated training, tiring her out stopped her getting so broody.  Remove all toys. Do not cuddle and tell her 'poor baby' etc. As JG says, be very 'Jolly hockysticks' with her and dont give her time to brood

Speak to your vet if you really are worried, but it was not unusual for Megan to carry on producing milk for 3 or 4 weeks.  She was also used as a wet nurse on one occassion, so not all things bad come out of phantoms.

Cut down her protein levels.