Canine Eclampsia

Hypocalcaemia and Puerperal Tetany

Canine eclampsia and signs of calcium deficiency can be a serious life threatening condition in dogs. You should know what symptoms to be aware of. This can save the life of your dog.

Calcium supplements can be important but only after the disease has been diagnosed by a veterinarian. Modern dog food is both hated and loved and some good has it done.

When i started to get interested in veterinary medicine back in the eighties, as i remember it more dogs had the disease.

Having my own practice and worked as a vet since 1993, i haven't seen that many dogs having eclampsia or other signs of hypocalcaemia after whelping.

That's good and partly because of the modern dog food.

Symptoms of Milk Fever in Dogs

Eclampsia is a disease where there is a imbalance between the impute of calcium in the blood and the loss of calcium from the body. This leads to a decreased amount of calcium in the blood and signs of calcium deficiency begins.

Exactly why this imbalance happens is poorly understood. Often i happens in the days just after whelping, sometimes weeks later.

Typical it is small breed dogs which is most at risk developing postpartum canine eclampsia.

Very early signs of eclampsia can be tiredness and often lowered appetite.

Other symptoms of canine eclampsia soon showing: stiffness and difficulty walking,panting and restlessness. Body temperature increases. This can soon develops into a state where there is muscle cramps and/or seizures.

Such a fast development is life threatening. Sometimes this happens within 30 minutes.

If not treated promptly the dog will be at great risk.

Having a small dog, just whelped. Perhaps having a lowered appetite and many puppies to take care of - be aware of the above signs.

Call your regularly vet immediately if you are in doubt if eclampsia is a possibility.

Hypocalcemia and Welping

If some experience problems during welping, often the calcium level is checked with a blood sample.

Even if levels are normal some calcium given IV can give some extra energy to muscles tiers after a long and perhaps difficult labor.

I remember one dog in labor having problem delivering some of the last pups. I gave it calcium injection and just after minutes, the pup almost came out like a bullet. (At least i remember it like this, so....)

But is this true?

In Sweden very recently, one study could indicate that oxytocin worked well both in dogs getting Ca injection, or not, before the oxytocine injection.

Many factors are important during the complicated process of delivery. Definitely more investigation should be done in the future so this can be fully understood.

Treatment of Canine Eclampsi

After confirmation of the clinical suspicion of this disease i give Ca in the blood. This should be done very slow. If to fast the risk of heart problems is big.

The heart can actually stop because of the high concentration of calcium in the blood.

Sometimes even some other treatment could be needed.

Often glucose level in the blood is something i can give a thought. Even some IV diazepam as well, in order to relax both the mind and the muscle spasms in some of my canine eclampsia patients.

Calcium is the main treatment of cause.

After the initial stabilisation when the dog is able to get home further treatment with calcium supplementation is important.

To minimize the calcium need, i recommend to give the pups extra milk supplementation. If they are old enough, then try to wean them of. This should be done as soon as possible.

I do not recommend calcium supplementation during the pregnancy. This is in my opinion not necessary. Normal good quality dog food for pups is often enough to give the extra calcium needed during the pregnancy.

If there is a history of calcium supplementation is needed, but only after welping.

Then you should give the extra calcium as needed. Ask your local vet about this as dosis can vary. Sometimes vitamin D is given as well but i have not had any need of this.

Extra blood samples to check the calcium can be a help, during the most vulnerable period in order to avoid puerperal tetany.