Girl had two good ties and was scanned at 30-32 days post mating by experienced scanner. Totally empty. Scanner has always been 100% accurate for my girls. Gutted,as convinced she was in whelp as she had all the normal signs. I expected these "signs" to start to diminish as had convinced myself most must have been me being extra hopeful, but at day 42 post mating she is still looking and behaving like a "pregnant lady". Her vulva is still larger, her nipples are bigger and very pink, her ribs have expanded, she is quiet and avoiding the other girls and is behaving like she has never seen food before.

I have never experienced a phantom before that exactly mimics a pregnancy and would appreciate any advice regarding how I should help her to get back to normal as quickly as possible. Also, how long will she continue to believe she is pregnant? Has anyone ever had a girl go right to due date with a false pregnancy and then suddenly go back to normal?

Totally at a loss, your experiences and thoughts are gratefully received, as always...

..... and I'd lay odds that despite the neg.scan, you'll still be waiting and watching as her due date approaches.  Which is why I didn't bother with scans.   I have had the odd false pregnancy going on, but that didn't begin until after the due date, and was usually more down to lactating, than anything else.   I have also had one that by around 5 weeks looked to be carrying a normal sized litter.   She didn't expand any further, and produced - ONE PUPPY and we had to go in for that too.   It was a bitch but much as we kept her, really wasn't good enough to be shown much beyond the puppy classes.  And she started coming into season from 6 months, and then every 5 months.   I had her spayed.

You could wait until you'd normally see puppies moving around (7 weeks on) and if you don't get her back to her usual routine.   And you could go for x-ray which is more accurate than scanning.    In any case, my pregnant girls had a normal life-style throughout their pregnancy, exercising until their increased girth prevented much activity.   They were on a good quality food in any case but again as their size increased, I'd cut back on the 'bulk' and concentrate on protein - in more frequent smaller meals per day.

Thank you for your reply. I know the "scan" debate will continue and I fully understand your reasons not to scan.
But, my scanner has never been wrong and I am confident at present that this must be a phantom.

I will follow a worming programme as if she is pregnant as I am sure this will do no harm either way but should i increase her food intake??? Not because I think she is pregnant but because she is behaving like I am starving her. I hate to think of her feeling constantly hungry, but do not want her to gain additional weight.

I have the option of a rescan but cannot decide when i would be best to get this done. Do I get her scanned next week  or do i wait until just before her due date ? Or do I simply let nature and the phantom run its course.

I have heard stories of inaccurate scanning but these stem, in the main, because of lack of scanner experience. Has anyone had a girl scanned by someone who really "knows their stuff" as negative and then gone on to have a litter?

I feel like I am in limbo..... I just do not know the best way to approach it. Just feeling a little out of my depth.

Again, assume she could be pregnant and let her pregnancy run it's course.   If, by around 2 days beyond 62 from the first mating, nothing has happened, unless she's in distress before then of course, you could take her in for x-ray to confirm whether she is empty.   And again you should see puppies moving around by week 7, if she is pregnant.

You could also talk to your vet about all this!!    As said although we have had the occasional false pregnancy, this hasn't kicked in until after the due date.

ps   I never wormed my pregnant bitches.   They were done, along with any boosters needed bringing up to date, BEFORE the mating.   They were then wormed at the time I first wormed the puppies - usually by around week 2.

"You could also talk to your vet about all this!!"

Why assume that I haven't?

I ask questions here in addition to conversations with my vet, who has very limited experience of breeding. Although she gives options I would prefer to also gain opinions within this forum to help me make a more educated decision. On this forum there is more whelping and breeding experience than my vet could gain in a lifetime, that is why, when I feel slightly out of my depth I reach out to gain a better understanding.

My girls are also wormed, and any boosters administered, and receive CHV vaccine before the mating. But, as good practice, I have always wormed from Day 42 of pregnancy as well.

> Why assume that I haven't?

Oooh, sensitive .   Why assume I assume you haven't?   It was just a suggestion.   And for the record, I do have experience to share.   As do many others here.

No offence intended

id just take her for another scan.then you will no for sure whether she is or isnt.i want to know either way if she is not guessing until the moment arrives for whelping.