Question

My female dog was in heat when she was spayed. Now she is collecting her toys and treating them like puppies. Is she having a false pregnancy?

Answer

What you describe is a classic case of false pregnancy. Because of the way a female dog’s reproductive cycle works, it is very common for a false pregnancy to follow spaying during a heat period. Basically, the pituitary gland in the brain assumes the dog is pregnant causing the changes in behavior. The good news is that is will subside without treatment soon, usually within a week. Be careful of her behavior because some female dogs become very protective of their imaginary puppies.