Long Haired Dachshund's 'Phantom Pregnancy' Tugs at People's Heartstrings

As a dog owner, spaying or neutering your dog is one of the most important things you can do. But it can also be a stressful time for a pet owner! Even though you know getting your dog fixed is the right thing to do, and it's an incredibly safe procedure, any time your pet undergoes surgery it can be worrisome. Plus, after your dog is fixed you have to make sure they don't bother their incisions and that they are healing properly and taking all their medications.

One dog owner is experiencing another side effect of having her puppy spayed, and that's her little Long Haired Dachshund named Mia having phantom pregnancy symptoms after her operation.

The sweet video was shared by the TikTok account for @theregalweenie and viewers have so many thoughts about Mia and her 'baby.' One person commented "My pup went through a phantom pregnancy and the vet said that it's something that happens. Play along and they'll eventually stop. It's both sweet and sad. Sending love!" Another added, "They have puppy toys with a heartbeat! She’s being a lil momma. So sweet." Another person replied, "My dog just went through the same thing! It took her 3 weeks to get over it."

Related: Pregnant Dog Unable to Walk Delivers 11 Adorable Puppies

Mia is so dear with her little 'baby.' After getting spayed some dogs can show emotional side effects for a bit, like being more affectionate or needy or even becoming attached to a toy like Mia has. Mia's veterinarian explained her behavior was related to hormonal changes.

How Common are 'Phantom Pregnancies' in Dogs?

WEB MD explains that around 80% of unspayed female dogs — those who still have their ovaries and uterus — will show some signs of a false pregnancy at least once in their lives. Around 67% will have recurring symptoms.

They also go on to explain how this can happen in dogs that are spayed, with, phantom pregnancy can also be caused by spaying your dog too soon after an estrus cycle. The removal of the ovaries changes hormone levels at a problematic time in your dog’s cycle — leading to the symptoms of false pregnancy. It’s best to wait at least eight to ten weeks after your dog was last in heat before spaying her. Depending on the breed, dogs go into heat 1-3 times per year.

Purina explains why Mia may be so attached to her toy. Mild symptoms of mothering can usually be managed by removing toys she is protecting. You’ll need to do this in a non-distressing way by distracting her with a game or a Kong toy and getting someone else to quietly remove the toys she is mothering. It’s important to not punish your dog for mothering.

If you believe your own dog is experiencing a phantom pregnancy, contact your veterinarian for the best course of action in treating her.

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