Dog
Pseudopregnancy (False Pregnancy) in Female Dogs and Cats: Signs, Causes, and Management
Guide to pseudopregnancy (false pregnancy) in intact female dogs and cats — what it is (a hormonal pattern of high progesterone after heat → rising prolactin → pregnancy-like signs despite no fetus), why it happens in dogs (a reproductive cycle with a long luteal phase ~60-70 days matching pregnancy duration), clinical signs (mammary enlargement + lactation + nesting behavior + maternal aggression + appetite changes), signs in cats (rare because they are reflex ovulators, requiring an infertile mating stimulus), management (most self-resolve within 2-3 weeks, avoid milking, cabergoline for severe cases), when to see a vet, why spaying is the definitive cure, plus FAQ.
