What are your thought's on introducing a new puppy to the home when your other dog is having a phantom pregnancy?
Someone I know is thinking of getting a new puppy but her own dog has started having a phantom pregnancy she's in a dialemma as she has put a deposit on this puppy and doesn't want to let the breeder down but doesn't want to cause problems at home either.

Looks like puppy may have a new mummy ;) When is the pup ready to go home, and how long has the bitch had her phantom? She may be out of the phantom when the pup arrives so their might not be a problem of any kind. On the other hand the bitch might try to adopt the pup as one of its own, or she might decide that it doesn't belong. There is no way of knowing without trying it. Will the pups breeder not keep it for a little while until the bitch returns to normal?

The bitch has been showing signs of her phantom for about a week now, the puppy is ready to leave the breeder now but she is willing to keep it longer.
My friend is reluctant to try and mix her dog with the puppy although her dog isn't an aggresive breed she fears if her dog doesn't take to the puppy she will have to return it to the breeder and therefore let the breder down.
She could take her dog with her to try intoduce them at the breeders and see her dogs reaction to the puppy but it's a hell of a long way to travel around 300 miles round trip to make.
How long does symptoms of a phantom go on for?

The person concerned could always ask her vet for galastop
which does help stop a phantom pregnancy. But she'd have
to discuss the pro's and cons with her vet of using this medication.

it depends on your the bitch, and how bad her symptoms are. Some bitches can go on for weeks :( If she is really bad then I would suggest a visit to the vet to try to stop it. Otherwise just make sure that there aren't any pretend puppies (toys, etc) and cut down on her food intake.

Do you have a cage that you can put one of them in - just in case they don't get on? If the pup is ready to go now and the bitch is only a week into a phantom I think that I would be tempted to try it. Only you know yor bitch well enough though.

Hi

When I got my Whippet my russell was in milk. I really didnt think much about it until she started to suckle the pup. I only saw it happen a few times and the milk soon dried up but I do wonder if that did make them bond better as they are really close. They both have super natures so could of been pals anyway but I am sure having a adoptive mum did help my whippet settle in more.

Wendy

You never know until you try. It could go one way and the bitch could decide that the new arrival doesn't belong in her pack, or on the other hand she could absolutely love the new puppy and mother it to pieces! The only way you will know is if you introduce the puppy, and just keep a close eye on whats happening and give it a few days to see what happens.

my bitch had a phantom pregnancy when i brought my whizz in, he was 8 weeks old and she loved him to bits, now my bitch is a chinese crested, whizz a border collie, when whizz was 6 months old he was huge to her, but she would still wash his face after he ate, and still protect him if the others where to rough with him,
when he suddnely died, before he passed away, she never left his side when he was so poorly, she grieved for him when he was gone,
but people could not beilieve this tiny little dog, mothered this big huge brute and would protect him if she thought he needed it, he was the only dog in the house allowed to share her bowl, sit on the sofa with her, the others are chased off and still chased off today from the sofa, so this is our experience with a phantom pregnancy and a new puppy,
carolann