Hiya since we have had sox she has been great and going outside for toilet, well at the mo we think she may be having a phantom pregnancy as she has been taking teddies into her crate, and getting clingy, has got a little fatter round the ribs,and stuff like that. She has been sck a couple of times over the last few weeks but nothing to write home about. Well the last 2 nights on the trot she has pooed in the house over night, we are putting her out at night like we usually do, I just don't know why, is it an indication she isn't well or just one of those things, and how best to deal with it. Is it likely something to do with the phantom, or should I be worried that its not a phantom afterall!! Really don't know what to do, any help and advice would be most most welcomed xx lisa xx

By the was she is 17 months old

What ever it is, and it could be to do with a phantom, it would be best to have a word with your vet.
Has your vet confirmed a phantom?

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I work my life around my dog, not my dog around my life

To be honest I didn't know I needed the vet to confirm it, sorry I know that makes me look sooo dim lol. She did escapre a few times during season but I was like 90% sure she didn't mate, so just assumed it must be a phantom. Is there any sygnificant difference between a phantom and a real pregnancy such as how soon after season behaviour changes or anything that I could use to guide me now. I will book her in at vets but as I am the driver in the house thats an issue cos of my broken foot. Again any help or advice would be great. She was in season for around 3 weeks about 3/4 weeks ago since start of season, I really didn't think she had mated so if she did then I have no idea when during the 3 weeks she did xx lisa xx

Symptopms: within days of her season finishing, she became clingy and moody just mooching around feeling sorry for herself, she was for a few days taking teddies paper and anything she could into her crate, she has been sick in the morning a few times, not loads just one bit now and then. She is looking fatter round her ribs but not sugely so, she is lazier sleeps all the time, off her food but then stealing food if its left unatended.

You don't normally need a vet to confirm a phantom but with these symptoms I would get it checked, it isn't normal so soon after a season.
Has she got any kind of discharge, if she has, get her to the vet ASAP

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I work my life around my dog, not my dog around my life

Hi I have not seen any discharge but she does accasionally lick herself down there. Do you think she is ill?

The worry is Pyometra, which needs urgent vet. Whatever it is, I think it needs checking. Better to be safe.
It's so difficult on a forum, I don't want to worry you unnecessarily but pyo is a killer

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I work my life around my dog, not my dog around my life

Hiya, I thought that was what oyu might have been thinking of, so I had a read obout in in the health section. I will make an appointment to get her seen. Thanks for your help and advice xx lisa xx

I've asked Dundee to have a look at this thread, she will have more experience than me

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I work my life around my dog, not my dog around my life

Thanks Rona, I appreciate your help. xx lisa xx

If she escaped while in season I would say there's quite a high likelihood that she is pregnant. Bitches (during their season) are just as keen to find a mate as dogs are when they scent an in season bitch. Is there any particular reason why you are so sure she didn't mate.