my friend has a bedlington that everytime she has a season for about 9 weeks after she has a phantom pregnancie and then she has the normal signs of milk and wanting to mother a teddy, and then she seems as though she gets depression, is there any remedy that could help her, she has tried aloevera gel,evening primrose oil,  royal jelly, is there any ideas that any one knows can work, she really does not want to spay her as she is a smashing little dog .

Having her spayed will not stop her from being a 'smashing little dog' but it will stop her from going through the wringer every season.Maybe the question should be "is it in the bitches interests not to have her spayed"?

Hi,
Your friend is right to want to help, because the poor things can get very miserable with phantoms.

When she starts her season give her raspberry leaf tablets (Denes do them for dogs, and probably Dorwest Herbs too). Give them until the time when she would have whelped (9 weeks or so) then double the amount for another 6 weeks or so. At the same time start to reduce the protein in her diet so that by the time the 'phantom' is due, she is on about two-thirds her usual amount of protein. Lots of exercise is essential with longer walks, and more of them. Give her no opportunity to brood, or hide in corners. Don't let her have any soft toys to mother as this will only make the symptoms last longer.

It can be very upsetting to both bitch and owner when they get like this - the best thing to do is 'jolly her along' and keep her occupied. It does work, trust me.

Good luck.
:)

Get her speyed, your friend will then have a consistently "smashing little bitch".
dawn.

she does not want to spey her as she is her show dog and is a smasher apart from this.
Amy

I suppose it depends what means more to your firend or not. I'd rather my dogs were happy than in the show ring and if her seasons are causing her this much distress then I'd sort that out rather than worry about her show career. The dog should be put first always.

Jesse

You can still show a speyed bitch and her health and well being should come before anything else.

Hi Hippychick I know what your friend and her bitch is going thru Jordan my shepherd bitch had a terrible time last year with a severe phantom that left her annorexic and depressed for months, we also lost two of her kennel mates in that time so Jordan had what I would call a nervous breakdown her wight dropped to half of what it should be I had to force feed her, what I  use now is a product called BALANCE which is marketed by pytopet if u put a search out you will find it and I also I contacted Sun Essences again do a search they made a individual bottle for Jordan and to be honest after months of trying other things and trips to the vets, I may add here that vet did not feel it was in Jordans interests to have her spayed, my bitch has not had another phantom, eats like a pig and really enjoys life, sometimes the things you do not think will work I spent hundreds on Jordan and many times nearly gave up with her but I persevered and eventually I have my girl back better than ever hope this helps

Janines

If this is the UK then spaying will not prevent her being shown, she would just have to inform the Kennel Club that she has done so before she is shown.

I don't think the non shedding breeds coats have the adverse coat changes that occur with spayed/castrated dogs of say the Spanile breeds. 

It is worth asking an experienced BEdlington owner if there is a drastic change after neutering.  If the change is slight then it is worth it for the bitch to be happier.

If she is wanted to produce the next generaation then I suggest this is doen as soon as she is old enough and then spayed.

It can be very upsetting to both bitch and owner when they get like this - the best thing to do is 'jolly her along' and keep her occupied. It does work, trust me.

I will second what JG says. Moose my two and a half year old Lab has just been spayed and she always had phantoms and went into a depression. The way to get them out of it as JG says is to jolly her along and take her mind off it as the more they are allowed to mope the longer they will stay like it ! :)

phantom pregnancies are a curse , and are very difficult to deal with. I found the only way is to keep them amused and try to take their minds off it . I  was told to take  my girl  swimming .I  dont know why but it stopped her , but only for that season. next season  same all over again .
black cohosh  red clover and plenty soya milk is supposed to work also.
Lately all my dogs are getting powdered M.S.M  over their food .I am hoping to prevent them getting sick or going off colour  as M..S.M is excellent for over all wellbeing . like all things go for pure msm as synthetic stuff is not as effective
Mari