Hello all, I have a 3yr old intact female that is now going thru her second false pregnancy and I am exhausted. My vet suggested having her spayed to eliminate the condition but we i tend to breed her with her next heat in the Spring. She has never had a litter ao she is working strictly on instinct but my poor baby is thoroughly distraught. She has selected the back of my closet as her “den” and is routinely stealing towels from the hper and adding thwm to her nest in my closet. She has imprinted on one of favorite toys which is a soft furry pig that is just the right size and actually “grunts” when squeezed. She only leaves it to pee and eat and is constantly bathing it and trying desperately to get it to nurse. I’m afraid if I remove it she will grieve herself to death. Is there any way to ease her stress or shorten the cycle? My heart is breaking for her.

Take the 'baby' away and close the door to the closet to prevent her from going back there. It will help shorten the cycle. She will think that they either died or were weened. She won't grieve herself to death. She may mope and search for a bit but will eventually get over it. The only way to stop this is to spay her. As she gets older this can get worse. Giving low dose of melatonin can help some but won't fix the issue. She does this when she isn't pregnant, can you imagine how bad it could be when she is? I have a poorly spayed female that goes through false pregnancies. It is horrible and they have gotten harder on her every year.

You can talk to her vet about behavioral meds (trazadone) but I would just slay her. It’s not fair for her to be so uncomfortable and stressed

Jennet&Embry wrote:

You can talk to her vet about behavioral meds (trazadone) but I would just slay her. It’s not fair for her to be so uncomfortable and stressed

Pretty sure Jennet meant "spay" her, so don't slay her, please!

Seriously though, have you really thought the breeding thing through? Thoroughly? Id also recommend taking the toy away, ALL toys. It will distress her but she is already distressed. Taking the toys away shortens the duration though.

Artic_Wind wrote:

Jennet&Embry wrote:

You can talk to her vet about behavioral meds (trazadone) but I would just slay her. It’s not fair for her to be so uncomfortable and stressed

Pretty sure Jennet meant "spay" her, so don't slay her, please!

Seriously though, have you really thought the breeding thing through? Thoroughly?  Id also recommend taking the toy away, ALL toys. It will distress her but she is already distressed. Taking the toys away shortens the duration though.

Hahaha good call. Surprised my phone didn’t autocorrect it ????????