staffordshire bull terrier behaviour????

[jomccloud]

hi, about a month ago i bought a female staffy called peppa. she is 1 yrs old and had not had a very good life until the couple who i bought her off had rescued her 7 weeks previously. they said that she had just had her first season and they also have another 4 staffies!!! anyway, the reason for my concern is that she has always been lovely, kind and soft natured dog. very obedient, good on and off lead and settled in really well. she didn't know how to play at first but has soon learnt and loves to play now. but....the last few days she has started barking all the time, in the house, in the car, walking down the street and for no apparant reason, she's not nasty with it but not happy either!!! i've started to think allsorts of reasons why she should start to be like this and im now scared she might be pregnant. she doesn't seem to want her food (which she had eaten with the previous owners) but will eat human food, her 4 boobs at the back are quite saggy and nipples are quite big for a 1yr old. i did notice this when i first got her but thought it might of been that she had had a litter when she was very young! and she also has a spot of white discharge on her vulva sometimes and her vulva seems quite large too....please help, i am hoping that she is not pregnant and that it is a change in behaviour and the rehoming that has caused this, regards, Jo

[emmabeth]

I would get her to a vets asap and get this checked out - if she isn't pregnant, or having a false pregnancy (which is quite normal!), she could be brewing an infection in her uterus which can be deadly.

[Mattie]

As Emmabeth said, vet as fast as you can, she could be in pain which is why she is barking, Staffies are known for not showing pain so if they do it is really bad.

From a Staffy point of view, thank you for taking this little girl in, Staffies are having a very rough time at the moment and they are wonderful dogs. The pounds and rescues are full of them because of over breeding. If you need any help please ask, also let us know how she gets on at the vets.

[jomccloud]

hi and thanks for the responce, she has been to the vets today and they think its phantom pregnancy, also i put 2 and 2 together and worked out that she only seems to bark when she has her toys with us when we go out so maybe its a protective thing whilst she is having this phantom pregnancy. the vet hasn't ruled out pregnancy but she couldn't feel any pups, i suppose its just a waiting game now. its so difficult not knowing when she mated if at all, and the people who i got her off are not answering their phone which makes me wonder!!!! thanks again guys, Jo

[Mattie]

It does sound very suspicious if they are not answering the phone, I hope it is a phantom pregancy, there are far too many Staffies being born and nowhere for them to go.

Any problems don't forget to come and ask.