Phantom pregnancy and spaying

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
Log in to reply
  • JKentJ

    Ellie is 20 months old and was born in the spring (outside of the usual UK autumn/winter season).

    Her first heat cycle was at 6 months old in the usual autumn/winter season, then she had a partial cycle in the spring and a third cycle and the end of October 21 at the usual time.

    After the second partial cycle she showed some false pregnancy signs but it didn't feel like a real problem for her. This time she is showing them again but she is a lot more distressed - running around crying very frequently, lots of digging and attaching herself to a stuffed toy.

    We hadn't yet made a decision about spaying but in any case didn't want to do it until she was fully mature. However, it's not nice to see her this distressed and just wondering if we should be reconsidering for this reason? I understand it shouldn't be done while she is still experiencing these symptoms.

    Thanks

    Jane

    1 Reply 0
  • elbrantE

    It sounds as if she is "nesting"...

    elbrant.net

    1
  • J

    Tough topic, Jane. We can't even agree on this one in the same household. :anguished_face:

    2
  • ZandeZ

    It is a difficult one - as you know, I am rabid against spaying at all - but I also realise the distress it must be causing you. However, I am pretty certain that no vet would commit surgery on a dog who was displaying signs of a false pregnancy 'externally' as it is also possible things are going on inside to do with this condition. Talk to your vet and see if there is some calming medication she can have until this blows over.

    Sally Wallis

    Zande Basenjis

    www.zandebasenjis.com

    https://pedigrees.zandebasenjis.com

    SKYPE zandeuk

    1
  • tanzaT

    @jkent - My Franie has phantom pregnancy, but hers comes to light about 60 to 70 days after her cycle which would be after she would have had babies (and she has never been bred). She attaches herself to ONE toy and only when she is this the cycle. She carries it around, crying, digging, and she will put the toy to bed in her crate and then come sleep in bed.. LOL! She knows exactly were this "baby is" every year... and this has been going on for 12 years... LOL. She put this baby away until the next year (in the toy box). This lasts for about two weeks, give or take.

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    3

Suggested Topics

  • K

    Spaying anxieties

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    21
    0 Votes
    21 Posts
    7k Views
    S
    She should heal up quickly and be a great companion to you.
  • HollyH

    Spaying info

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    D
    If you can wait, I would have her spayed in early Summer. I had one rescue whose birthdate was in early January and she came into season in early September. It was a surprise as I just got her and her sire and he was intact also. Luckily I was able to get her spayed ASAP. I have a rescue who is 8 years old and is longer than she is tall. She waddles when she walks, swings her hips. Since I never had a B walk like this I did have her hips x-rayed and thankfully Dr. Tracy rated them as fair. Jennifer
  • c-busC

    Question of Spay

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    2k Views
    snorky998S
    Katie is a strange one. The vet taught us how to check for mammary cancer because of the body change, but she's still in the clear. This is the same dog that broke out in hives so bad during her first and only heat, she was put on Methylpredisolone for the duration. The more she licked to keep herself clean, the more hives she got. She was either allergic to herself, or so stressed nerves got the better of her and brought out hive like bumps. Never had a allergy/hives outbreak since. She's a strange one for sure.
  • N

    Spaying…

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    QuercusQ
    @basenji_fan: I've never heard about breeders recommending waiting till they are over a yr old, that is something completely new :confused: :confused: there are other threads about this topic. A lot of breeders suggest waiting until about a year old, so that physically the dog is mature before the removal of the sex hormones. I would say *most breeders suggest between six months to a year is great. A lot of people would prefer that their bitch not go through a first heat cycle, and that their male not start lifting his leg…which can happen around six months old.
  • MiaM

    Spaying recovery

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    2k Views
    MiaM
    I brought her to the vet on Monday and that's when she said to put a hot compress on the site. The incision looks normal and healing very well. No redness at all. The swelling is probably like the size of an almond. I noticed it because she's always had a very lean and flat tummy (don't we all wish we could be like that lol). I thought it was unhealthy too to have fluid accumulate under the skin, but the vet said it happens. I will keep an eye on it, and they said to call them on Friday with an update. Hopefully it will go away soon. In the mean time she really likes snuggling up with the heat pad.
  • abby_basenjiA

    To spay or not?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    2k Views
    lvossL
    Spaying a maiden bitch is a much less complicated procedure than spaying bitch who has had puppies. Basenjis can come into heat as early as 6 months old though mine have always come in for the first time at 10 months. As for being interested in breeding please read the thread in the Breeder Talk titled "Interested In Breeding". There are many things to consider before breeding a dog.