Rescue breeding staffy lactating constantly

Hi there, I'm new to this forum. 3 months ago we got a beautiful affectionate blue staffy girl from a rescue centre.

She's obviously had lots of pups as her nipples are so large. When we got her she was just coming off season. After a month, she bit a dog (and didn't let go). It was awful. We got a dog behaviourist round, and he was astounded as she looks like she's on heat (very large nipples, big vulva), and wondered if that was the cause for her aggression. We took her to the vet, and they didn't think so. Then a month later we took her to be spayed - they said the couldn't as she was lactating - a possible phantom pregnancy. But this has been going on for at least 6 weeks now (the lactating). She's 2 to 5 years old, so I guess if she's been constantly bred, maybe her body just things she's had pups? It's awful to think.

Does anyone have experience of this? We do wonder if her hormones have something to do with her odd behaviour. As well as that we think she may have been treated terribly as a breeding dog (obviously not socialised or played with (she's only just started relaxing and playing with toys after 2 months of being with us)).

We're at a bit of a loss (especially as the dog behaviourist we've paid hundreds of pounds for has no clue whatsoever). Thank you!!

Hi & welcome. 

Firstly, thank you for rescuing her - she's obviously found a caring home at last! 

It could well be a phantom pregnancy. If she has been bred at every season, then she could have had at least 4 or 5 litters & her body will react to her seasons & she'll think she's pregnant again. A phantom pregnancy can last for 6-8 weeks! 

Has your vet done any tests, or given you anything to dry up her milk?

The aggression could be because she's still very unsure of herself, and maybe she hasn't had good experiences with other dogs. Have you had any more problems?

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Hi from me & Katy, well done on taking on a rescue Sounds like she's had a hard life but has landed on her paws with you! It does sound like she's having a phantom & her hormones are going to be all over the place until she finishes.

Phantoms can really mess with animals. I recently sat up for weeks with a mare about to foal...testing her milk and doing vulva checks etc and eventually had to call the vet cause no foal was coming and found out she was not even pregnant! I had the same with a bitch many years ago..she was "bred" by a stray but neutered dog that jumped our fence into her and we were mighty confused because she grew huge, had full teats and was lactating but no pups ever came and vet who then spayed her said her uterus was brand new (so she didn't whelp then eat the pups/mess or anything)

The symptoms eventually did just go away on their own it just took time.