Dog Heartbroken Over Phantom Pregnancy Meets New Puppy in Emotional Video

A dog distraught over a phantom pregnancy meeting a new puppy for the first time has the internet in tears.

In a video posted to TikTok by Cheryl Cruz (@cherylcruz92) on September 2, Skye the border collie can be seen rubbing noses and playing with her new sister, a puppy named Luna. Recently suffering from a phantom pregnancy, Cheryl said she adopted Luna so Skye could have a real puppy to love.

The cute clip melted users' hearts, with the video receiving over 330,000 likes.

Phantom pregnancy—also known as pseudopregnancy, pseudocyesis and false pregnancy—is commonly experienced by unspayed female dogs. According to Fetch by WebMD, symptoms include depression, a loss of appetite, swollen mammary glands and milk production, a swollen belly, fluid retention and false labor.

Dr. Jeff Smith, medical director at Danville Family Vet, said that phantom or "false" pregnancies usually follow a heat cycle.

"The decrease in the hormones of estrus (heat) and the rise in the hormones intended to sustain a pregnancy can lead to a false pregnancy," he told Newsweek.

"The dog will produce milk and have the motherly instincts that come with pregnancy. She will make a 'nest' and collect her toys and try to nurse them as if they were puppies."

Phantom pregnancies can have an ongoing emotional impact on a dog, with the feelings brought on by a false pregnancy no different than a real one.

"The 'need' to protect and care for her puppies is just as real and compelling in a phantom pregnancy, even if her 'puppies' are inanimate objects," said Smith.

"It is not a rational decision, they are deep-seated instinctual emotions."

For owners helping their dog through a phantom pregnancy, Smith recommends allowing your pet to "act out" the behaviors, as it will make the situation less stressful for her.

"Avoiding over-stimulation of the mammary glands will cause the milk to dry up quicker and having her spayed will alleviate problems like this in the future," he said.

In the video, a large gray box is carried into the living room. Skye runs up to it and begins sniffing around, trying to figure out what is inside. When the lid is lifted to reveal Luna—also a border collie—inside, the two dogs touch noses before Skye begins excitedly dancing around.

When Luna is placed on the floor, Skye sniffs her to investigate, before following the puppy around the room.

TikTok users couldn't get enough of the sweet scene, with Debbie Brooks calling the clip "so lovely."

"This is one of the kindest actions I have ever seen," said 73smilinhAlways.

"You did a beautiful thing," agreed Olivia Hodson.

"My hearts proper melted," wrote TigersEye1111.

While xylercreations commented: "[I] can already tell they're going to be inseparable."

Newsweek has reached out to @cherylcruz92 for comment.