My 8 year old GSD bitch is having a full on phantom pregnancy.  She is producing a lot of milk, moping around the house and looking very sorry for herself.  She has just completed a week's worth of diuretic treatment from the vet (it's not worked one little bit!), and will shortly start a course of hormone treatment to get rid of the milk, but before I do that, I just wanted to check there's no one out there needing a foster mum for their pups.  She so desperately wants some babies to look after, so if we can lend a hand, please drop me a line back ASAP before she starts getting pumped full of hormones.

Have you contacted all the other vets in your area, in case they know of someone who needs a foster mum?

There is a surrogate service set up for horses.  One should really be set up for dogs.  I believe if you look up Donpipique poodles on the breeder list, they offer a puppy rearing service.  They might know of someone.  I've seen an ad in the paper I'm sure for them.

whats diuretic treatment got to do with drying up milk? my bitch had gallostop liquid for 6 days and it def takes a week to work

God only know.  Probably just the vet trying to fleece me out of extra money.  To be fair she hasn't had a need to pee any more than usual, so whatever it was, it's not working.

Poor poppet is really moping around at the mo.  Taking her back for a nasty skin infection she's had for the last month (which has been treated to no avail) today so will ask for the gallostop as I think it's the phantom that's affecting her the most.  As a 30 year old single female, I feel her pain..........

> Taking her back for a nasty skin infection she's had for the last month (which has been treated to no avail)

Probably not the best candidate for fostering then. 

To be honest I wouldn't want her anywhere near any very vunerable pups of mine if she has a skin infection!

> To be honest I wouldn't want her anywhere near any very vunerable pups of mine if she has a skin infection!

Me neither!!

I do wonder about people sometimes...don't you?? ;-)

Well yes, having someone else's much loved (and paid for) litter of cuddly wuddly sweet puppies would be lovely, wouldn't it? ;) ;)

Air and Newfie; what a pair of bitchy sanctimonious individuals you are!?  I suppose you think that YOU should be owed money for a bitch bringing up your pups and giving them a good start in life, don't you?  Because a bitch fostering a litter of pups doesn't involve any work for the bitch's owner, does it?  No, not much!!

The  skin infection would NOT be detrimental to the pups or my bitch, I've already checked that with the vet. I wouldn't for one minute put my bitch or any pups in danger, so please do not insult my intelligence by suggesting otherwise.  I'm so sorry to have offended a select few by making a genuine offer to anyone in need of a foster bitch.  My bad.

To those of you that came up with good suggestions and comments with regards to how to find pups in need or ridding her of the phantom pregnancy, thank you.  Sadly, I don't think I will be coming back to this forum looking for or offering help in future as there seem to be some individuals who have a rather large chip on their shoulders who find it entertaining to bully people from behind their computer screens.

I can't for one minute imagine a Vet sanctioning putting an UNKNOWN(and therefore unknown pathagens to the litter) Bitch with ANY skin infection, into a litter of newborn and vunerable pups...

To those of you that came up with good suggestions and comments Does that mean my suggesting you don't go near a litter of vunerable pups WAS a good suggestion or not??

Maybe, just maybe, if you'd ever had a litter of pups yourself, you'd understand why someone would be reluctant to allow a bitch with a skin infection to nurse their newborn pups - especially after first losing a much loved bitch after the birth of her pups ;)   A huge investment of time and love and yes MONEY has usually gone into the litter even before the bitch becomes pregnant.  To then lose the bitch and put the pups at risk too would be unthinkable :( :(

FWIW I've had vets categorically tell me one thing and then have to admit they were WRONG! on several occasions.  In this case a breeder must err on the side of caution and their own experience ;)

You would also not be doing your bitch a favour.  If the skin infection is nasty and persisitent then she must already be 'run down' and would not have the reserves that caring for a litter would require.  Feeding and caring for a litter takes a lot out of a bitch and she should be in tip top condition before starting, otherwise it would take too much out of her ;)

I suppose you think that YOU should be owed money for a bitch bringing up your pups and giving them a good start in life, don't you?  Because a bitch fostering a litter of pups doesn't involve any work for the bitch's owner, does it?  No, not much!!

Ahh! missed this bit - and it all becomes clear :( :(

I was wondering why someone with a bitch who had a skin infection would want to put her under even more stress :( :(

Dear lord!  Do you REALLY think I'd expect payment!??  Oh my god!  First of all, how DARE you accuse me of that when you don't even know me.  Second of all, I cannot believe anyone out there WOULD expect anything other than just basic expenses.

I was merely offering my bitch, who is lactating and moping around looking for non existent pups, to someone who has lost their bitch and needs a foster bitch.

Oh, let me guess.... we'll be going down the route of "why didn't you get her spayed?" next.  That I do not need to explain other than to say that I am responsible enough not to bring unwanted puppies or breed from a bitch that has anything less than perfect hips. 

I was obviously wrong to listen to my vet and VERY wrong to come on here offering to help out. 

I'm just going to leave this forum.  I will not endure bullying and character assasination from people who do not know me or have even the first idea of how I care for my dog.  I've been through thick and thin with that dog, and always put her first in everything I've done, including my career.

So take care all, and have fun attacking the next innocent newbie that comes along.

I suppose you think that YOU should be owed money for a bitch bringing up your pups and giving them a good start in life, don't you?

It was in answer to your accusation ;)  How dare you accuse those on here of wanting payment, who have vastly more experience than you?

You don't know any of us either, yet have been extremely rude.   You still haven't answered as to why anyone with a bitch who is obviously run down enough to have a persistent nasty skin infection would want to put her health further at risk by feeding pups.

By the way, vets may have experience of treating sick animals, but they aren't usually experienced in breeding bitches and caring for their newborn offspring.  No vet in their right mind would suggest putting a bitch through feeding pups when she isn't 100% healthy herself.

I do wonder what is happening to this forum,instead of politely telling poster her bitch may not be suitable for fostering the bitchiness starts (  I do wonder about people sometimes...don't you??)its like being in a school playground .Also as most of us do breed from our dogs and have an opinion we are no better than any other dog owner or any worse ,there are people on here that do help other dog owners and then there are the children.

>I do wonder what is happening to this forum,instead of politely telling poster her bitch may not be suitable for fostering the bitchiness starts

You have hit the nail on the head there Trekkiemo.

I have only just been asked to check this thread and I am disgusted at some of the replies. A genuine offer of help has been turned into something nasty. Yet again, a new member has been treated badly by individuals who seem to feel it is their right to pick holes and hound new members away.

This is not what this forum is about. The forum is here for EVERONE and is to educate and share information.

There is a huge difference between a heated debate and out right nastiness

The forum is not here to provide a platforum for bullying. You would all be wise to remember this.