Why is my unspayed dog lactating, panting, and acting aggressive?

Question

Redbone Coonhound 9 year old female not fixed. Increased panting over 1 week, on heavy side, lactating, not pregnant, last heat cycle was July. Increased appetite, extra snappy with her canine siblings. She has issues with arthritis in hips. Is on Glucosamine. Pet's info: Dog | Redbone Coonhound | Female | unspayed | 9 years old | 80 lbs

Elva Ma DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that Bella is unwell. Her symptoms may be related to pseudopregnancy, or false pregnancy. However, pseudopregnancy usually happens 6-8 weeks after her heat cycle, so the timeline does not quite match up. Because of this, I would recommend having her assessed by your local vet to be sure, to rule out other possible causes for this behaviour. For example, it may be pain related to her arthritis or something else entirely. The vet may recommend starting with a blood test, or even an x-ray if true pregnancy is suspected. In the meantime, if you are suspicious of false pregnancy, you can put a snug-fitting T-shirt on her to reduce licking and stimulation of the mammary glands. Please note that false pregnancy can be associated with increased risk of mammary cancer, so it is recommended to get her spayed after this episode has finished to prevent future episodes and minimize her risk. I hope this helps, and that Bella is feeling better soon!

Why is my unspayed dog lactating, panting, and acting aggressive?

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