I am looking for advice on phantoms from those who have experienced then with their girls. After two negative relaxin tests we resigned ourselves to the fact that our girl hadn't taken, however she is continuing to show all the signs of being in whelp and our vet was unsure as he thought he could feel something.
To be on the safe side she has been sleeping in her whelping box for the last week, she has been asleep most of the time with intermitant panting when active. Today,just to confuse us further (day 60) she had a sticky clear discharge, not a lot but enough to be noticed like a stringy blob from her vulva. I know that this is one of the first indications of whelping, could it be coincidence?
We have not noted a drop below 100 with her temp as yet.
Eavie
ps I know that time will tell but I am just concerned that their could be a small litter (average for breed about eight) and have discussed the possibility of x raying at day 64 to be sure with our vet.

Can you not get her scanned..where in the country are you?
I know its not 100% but at least you could give it a go.
If it was that she was in pup with a singleton pup you will have to be very careful in case
there arent enough chemiclas to kick off the birthing process.
I have a bitch that has had several phantoms but not going as far as the stringy discharge.

Carolyn, unfortunately my vet doesn't have a scanner, I am a bit reluctant to take her to a new vet just yet but will if I have too. My vet is suggesting x raying her while awake with me holding her. She is fast asleep at the moment. I will continue to watch her carefully. The clear stringy discharge is what is troubling me most as I have not read of this occuring in a phantom. Do you ever think that we read to much ;)
Eavie

Hi eavie.
Has anything else happened? You must be quite stressed-is she, isnt she? all the best. I hope your bitch is ok, andhope you find out what is going on soon. Sorry to be of no more help, i think the others have said just about everythnig!

No nothing has happened yet, she is acting a bit uncomfortable, standing up turning round and lying down again, the thing is if I hadn't have used the relaxin test I think that I would be convinced that she is. She has eaten very little today, taking the occassional mouthful.
Eavie

Have you taken her temperature?

Jesse

yes for the last few days, earlier this morning it had gone up to 101.5 from 100.5 yesterday. I will take it again tonight,she's not keen on it though, don't think that I would either though;)
Eavie
ps do you think that the clear/sticky unoffensive discharge could be caused by a phantom?

In my experiences temp taking doesn't always help. my bitches haven't had a temp change at all and gone into labour. They showed signs of discomfort, bed tearing, turning etc and within 6 hours they had delivered the first pup.

I think the trick is to know all the signs and then worry yourself to death if you get some none or all ;)
Eavie

have an xray done, your vet surely will have xray equipment, -the skeleton of any pups will show up at this stage.

Don't forget, she could have a full labour but produce no pups if it is a phantom. Waters can break and the lot. I'd go get scanned ASAP dear!

twiggy, ive never ever heard of a phantom producing the waters breaking, if theres no pups what would the water be around ????? has anyone else ever had this, -im genuinley suprised ????

I wonder whether the pups were reabsorbed leaving just the sacs? The bitch will probably go through the motions but no puppies?

Jesse

Dizzy, vet has suggested x raying on Monday (64/65 days). On the one hand I think she has had two negative relaxin tests but then there was the discharge (could this be hormonal due to the timing and not an indication of whelping?) She is certainly more restless tonight, although there has been no digging. Poor girl is probably picking up on my anxieties as well!
Will let you all know what happens
Eavie

Well, one of my girls had a very convincing phantom once. She did have the clear mucous discharge too, and she did pant, nested, had a bit of diarrhoea, stopped eating...everything! Her temp even went down to 36.9°c! But it was just a phantom and she didn't have any pups. There was NO way of knowing if it was definitely a phantom or if there was a pup in there (the vet was unsure too!), except for a scan or an x-ray. We scanned her and then we saw she was not having anything in there. I undertsand you, it's quite frustrating and tiring not to know for sure, and the doubt is killing you! My best wishes for you and your girl!

Thanks Biocan, nothing else has happened here, apart from me watching a large brown dog sleep a lot;)
She is still only picking at her food and today her temperature (after yesterdays' slight rise to 101.5) is back down to about 100.3
Eavie