Hi Guys,

Just thought I'd ask you all for your thoughts on this....

Ruby our Irish Setter is 16 months now, and had her first season in May. Since she had her season her tummy has been a bit "baggy(!)" but she has not shown and signs of redness, pain or any kind of discomfort or illness, I noticed the other day that two of her teats (the second from the back ones) were a little red and were producing the tiniest bit of milk.
I am overprotective with Ruby as she was very poorly with metaphyseal osteopathy at six months so I took her to the vets, who said that she is having a phantom pregnancy (these were her only symptoms, no nesting or anything like that) and gave me some Galstop for her. He did say however that now she has had one chances are she will have one after every season now, and I should think about getting her spayed. First and foremost she is a pet to us and her health and comfort comes before anything, but we have just started to show her and would really likely to continue.

I just wondered if anyone has experienced the same thing and been given the same advice, and what they decided to do?

Thanks in advance.

Nicki xx

our old girl had  a phantom for 2 seasons, she then had a litter and then went back to having phantoms every other season. She was due to be spayed last year but was quite poorly with mammary cancer so vet wouldnt do it. She has since had 2 seasons with no effects........all connected to having breasts removed??? possably.

So in answer to your question yes it is common (from my experiance) that phantoms occur repeatedly, they did however become less trouublesome ie not needing medication......just symptoms lasting a few days and making sure she didnt mother toys etc

The majority of bitches have them, but some have more symptons than others.  They do not necessarily "grow out" of them.  The worry is, with continual bad phantoms, the risk of pyometra. 

I  understand that you can show a spayed bitch, all you have to do is notify the Kennel Club - you don't ask permission or anything like that.  You just let them know that the operation has taken place.  You could always phone them to check.

Thanks guys for that, JeanSW I didn't know that, I will be check with them. In the event of her getting so bad with them she needs to be spayed we will do it anyway, her health comes first :-)

Nicki xx