Eclampsia (tetany) in a dog after birth: symptoms, treatment and prevention

Pregnancy and childbirth in a dog are often associated with various complications and pathologies, especially if there is insufficient attention to them from humans.

Eclampsia (milk fever) in a dog after childbirth is considered one of the most dangerous diseases that can be fatal. Sometimes only emergency help makes it possible to save the life of a pet.

The essence of the disease

Postpartum eclampsia, commonly called milk fever, is an acute toxicosis that is life-threatening for the animal . In essence, the pathology is hypocalcemia and lactation tetany.

The main symptoms of the disease begin to appear when, as a result of metabolic disorders, the level of calcium in the blood drops below 1.8 mmol/l . The pathology can develop in the last stage of pregnancy, but is most common in the postpartum period and when feeding puppies.

In both humans and any mammal, calcium is considered an essential metabolic element, and its significant deficiency leads to various metabolic disorders . In addition, it ensures the absorption of magnesium by the body, which largely determines the functioning of the central nervous system. It is not surprising that acute hypocalcemia causes quite severe nervous disorders.

The etiological mechanism of milk fever has not been fully identified, but the following provoking causes :

• unbalanced protein-mineral feed ration with exclusively meat diet;
• genetic predisposition;
• complicated pregnancy;
• infectious lesions and pathologies of internal organs.

Important! The development of the disease leads to serious consequences. In the advanced stage, problems with breathing and oxygen breathing begin, which leads to swelling of the brain and death of the animal.

Diagnostic process

In most cases, there is simply no time for detailed research, but, taking into account the medical history and condition of the animal, making the correct diagnosis is not so difficult. She should always be suspected when less than three weeks have passed since birth. In addition, for final confirmation of the diagnosis, a rapid analysis of blood serum with determination of the amount of free calcium in it is sufficient.

But there may also be problems: drugs used to relieve attacks increase the level of this substance in the blood, so after starting treatment there is no point in taking blood for testing.

In dogs suffering from eclampsia (or on the verge of it), calcium in the blood remains less than 7 mg/dm³. At the same time, the amount of phosphorus decreases. Your glucose levels will likely also vary significantly from normal. Eclampsia is usually accompanied by proteinuria.

Who is at risk?

It has been found that eclampsia is most often found in small dogs . A predisposition to pathology at the genetic level is observed in breeds such as poodles, beagles, dachshunds, and small terriers .

Females of small breeds have an accelerated heartbeat and rapid metabolic processes, and milk is sometimes produced in such quantities that their body does not have time to restore the level of calcium spent on lactation. The risk of disease increases when a large number of puppies are born.

At risk are animals with parathyroid disease , leading to disruption of hormone production. Renal pathologies in dogs cause a decrease in albumin levels, which provokes hypocalcemia.

The likelihood of the disease increases with hypothyroidism . Most often, animals suffer after birth if the last stage of pregnancy was accompanied by acute toxicosis and a complicated course.

Clinical picture and features of different forms of eclampsia

Eclampsia is a very serious disorder, but its clinical picture is very characteristic.

If your dog has recently given birth and is nursing puppies, then it will be very difficult to confuse the symptoms with something else:

• At first, you will notice that your pet has become unusually excited and even anxious. The pathology develops quickly, and soon the animal develops a rolling, “wooden” gait.
• There is a serious lack of coordination of movements. In more severe cases, the dog cannot go anywhere at all, its muscles are hard, and they are sometimes shaken by trembling. There is also quite strong twitching of the eyeballs, shortness of breath, hoarse, accelerated and very shallow breathing.
• The bitch may have a fever, the temperature often rises to 40.5° Celsius. Cases of temperature increases up to 41.6° are described. This phenomenon is associated with increased, tetanic muscle spasm, in which mitochondria begin to massively “burn out” energy, which turns into heat.
• The breathing rate also increases. If you do not help the dog, then at this stage it will most likely die. Regardless of the form of the disease, it develops rapidly: less than 12 hours can pass from the appearance of the first symptoms to death.

Intermittent fever, as a rule, is caused by the first attack.

Signs of Milk Fever

As eclampsia develops, the signs of the disease rapidly increase. The most characteristic symptoms :

• convulsions caused by muscle spasms without loss of consciousness;
• rapid pulse and heartbeat;
• increase in body temperature to 41-42 degrees;
• shortness of breath, frequent and heavy breathing;

• 
  abnormal behavior, expressed in restlessness and fussiness, causeless barking and squeaking, ignoring puppies; refusal of food and drink; complete apathy to what is happening around

• loss of coordination and loss of balance as a result of dizziness;
• photophobia, searching for dark places, running and squinting eyes.

Symptoms at different stages

Based on the severity of the symptoms of eclampsia, the following stages of pathology are distinguished:

1. First stage. The initial signs of the disease are expressed in increased breathing, agitated, and sometimes aggressive behavior of the dog.
2. Second stage. The progression of the disease leads to such pronounced manifestations as excessive salivation, disturbances in the coordination of the paws and periodic loss of balance, muscle spasms and cramps, rapid heartbeat, and constriction of the pupils.
3. Third stage. At this stage, only emergency measures can save the animal. Signs of respiratory failure and hyperthermia appear.

Eclampsia can begin to appear several hours before birth and throughout the entire period of lactation, as well as within 8-12 days after stopping feeding puppies. The most dangerous period is considered to be within 12-25 days after birth. During multiple births, there is a high probability of developing the disease 1-3 hours before birth and immediately after it.

Attention! Eclampsia during childbirth leads to a deterioration in the contractile capabilities of the uterus, which significantly complicates them.

Symptoms and causes

Eclampsia is very rarely observed in dogs during or after pregnancy. As a rule, hypocalcemia occurs in the first 40 days after the end of labor. As a result of the disease, bones soften and blood clotting worsens. Once a dog is diagnosed with this disease for the first time, there is a risk of it developing again in the future.

Causes of the disease:

• lack of a balanced diet during the period of bearing puppies;
• incorrect ratio of calcium to phosphorus in the dog’s diet during pregnancy;
• large size of puppies in relation to mother's weight;
• kidney disease;
• increased lactation;
• incorrect amount of phosphorus and calcium in food consumed during pregnancy.

At first glance, it may seem that eclampsia in dogs, the symptoms of which will be described below, is not a very serious disease. But this is far from true. If left untreated, complications may arise, so the postpartum dog should be closely monitored for warning signs.

Symptoms of eclampsia:

• violation of the dog’s relationship with newborn puppies;
• state of anxiety and excitement;
• disturbances of orientation in space;
• diarrhea and vomiting;
• difficulty gait, clumsiness;
• muscle tremors, convulsions;
• numbness of the body;
• immobility that occurs within 8-12 hours after the first symptoms are detected;
• dilated pupils;
• increased frequency and difficulty breathing;
• temperature increase;
• feverish condition.

Postpartum eclampsia in dogs develops in stages: first, mood changes occur, and after that - disturbances in motor activity, problems with the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory system. At the final stage of the disease, there is a risk of developing cerebral edema with subsequent death of the dog. Most often, these symptoms may occur 10-14 days after birth.

Emergency measures

Milk fever progresses quite quickly, and the advanced stage of the disease leads to paralysis, coma and death. The pathology will not go away on its own, and the lack of help almost 100% means the death of the animal.

Attention! When the disease passes into the third stage, only 2-3 hours are allotted for assistance, and in the best case – 20-22 hours. Then it will no longer be possible to save the dog.

First, emergency aid can be provided in the following ways:

1. Administration of 10% calcium gluconate. In case of advanced disease, intramuscular injection is provided alternately into all 4 paws. At the second stage, the drug is diluted with saline (in equal proportions) and injected subcutaneously into the withers. At the beginning of the disease, the solution can be poured into the mouth.
2. Use of calcium chloride. At stages 2 and 3, the drug is administered by intravenous injection. When the disease is detected at stage 1, the solution is diluted with milk in equal proportions and poured into the mouth.
3. In addition to injections, Valocordin solution is used . The concentration is selected from this calculation - small rocks - 4-6 drops, large ones - 12-16 drops per 50 ml of water. The product is poured into the mouth, and a small amount is smeared on the nose.
4. Normalization of the central nervous system is achieved by intramuscular injection of Sulfocamphocaine . It is also advisable to give an injection with Diphenhydramine (0.4-0.6 cc).

Important. When providing first aid, the owner’s nervous state is transferred to the pet.
All actions must be carried out calmly, without fuss, with maximum care provided to the animal (stroking, soothing voice).

Prevention of pathology

Experienced dog breeders and veterinary therapists recommend that owners adhere to the following rules and advice to prevent eclampsia in dogs:

• Balance the animal's diet before fertilization. Feed pregnant and lactating dogs wisely. With a natural type of feeding, you should diversify the menu with fermented milk products, different types of meat, and vegetables. If an animal receives ready-made dry food, then preference should be given to specialized formulations from premium and super-premium food manufacturers.
• On the recommendation of a veterinarian, with natural feeding, in order to avoid eclampsia in pregnant dogs, it is necessary to add calcium and vitamin D to the diet.
• Promptly identify and treat chronic diseases of the liver, kidneys, and hormonal disorders.

We recommend reading about normal and pathological discharge after childbirth in a dog. From the article you will learn how to prevent complications after childbirth, what green, black and bloody discharge mean.

And here is more information about the causes of uterine prolapse in dogs.

Eclampsia in dogs is an acute disease characterized by hypocalcemia. A low level of the mineral in the blood of a nursing female leads to neurological disorders and manifests itself in the form of tonic-clonic seizures. Therapeutic assistance consists of the administration of calcium supplements, neuroplegics and tranquilizers. Lack of treatment leads to the development of coma and death of the animal.

Treatment

Emergency measures can stop an acute attack of hypocalcemia and severe symptoms, but do not guarantee the return of relapses . After eliminating the acute phase, the necessary treatment is carried out by a veterinarian using medications. The standard treatment regimen includes the following measures:

1. Intravenous injection of calcium glucanate solution . The course duration is 4-7 days depending on the severity of the disease.
2. Infusion of a solution of calcium chloride with milk into the mouth after meals for 18-21 days.
3. Dripping Corvalol or valerian solution 3 times a day, 3-6 drops for different breeds of dogs. Duration of treatment is 4-6 days.

Pathophysiology

It is believed that the main factor contributing to the development of pathology is the loss of free calcium in milk. Severe hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia typically develop within the first three weeks after birth. This is likely the result of an imbalance between the decreasing amount of free calcium and the body's inability to quickly make up for its deficiency.

All this leads to the fact that the membranes of muscle cells become excessively permeable and excitable. The result is tetanic muscle contractions and cramps. In severe cases, they are so strong and severe that the dog dies from suffocation, as he is physically unable to inhale air. Another danger of eclampsia is the far from theoretical possibility of muscle tissue dying, which subsequently (if the pet remains alive) leads to disability.

Remember that excessive calcium supplementation or foods excessively rich in this element do not help reduce the risk of eclampsia: on the contrary, such “prevention” significantly increases it. The problem is that the body of an animal that receives too much calcium begins to absorb it worse (this is a protective measure - this is how it is saved from the negative effects that occur when there is an excess of this element).

The problem is that at the same time the production of hormones that promote both the absorption and deposition of calcium in the bones decreases. Thus, if there is a sudden decrease in the amount of this element in the feed, or if it is necessary to increase its output (in milk, for example), the body may not be able to cope with this task.

Relapse Prevention

To ensure that attacks of the disease do not recur, it is necessary to take preventive measures . First of all, they are associated with a caring attitude towards the pet.

It is important to exclude all unnerving and irritating factors . If the dog continues to ignore the puppies and refuses to eat, then you will have to force it (and with the help of persuasion) to eat and drink. The nursing female must be protected from noise, unpleasant odors, and bright light.

Ultraviolet therapy is considered to be a fairly effective method of prevention . The animal's recovery process must be kept under control. To do this, it is recommended to periodically conduct blood tests.

Main symptoms of the disease

Every owner should pay close attention to their pet in the first few weeks of the postpartum period. Usually, nursing dogs after giving birth are busy with their puppies and rarely show activity, so the question of the dog’s condition must be taken carefully. Veterinarians note that eclampsia is very dangerous, because during the period of feeding puppies the animal loses more and more calcium and experiences severe deficiency.

The main symptoms of the disease are:

1. Photophobia. The dog's muscles relax, and the whole body directs its attention to saving vital organs. The animal's pupils dilate and it constantly looks for a dark place to hide.
2. Severe shortness of breath. This occurs if the animal's pulse is higher than normal. The dog cannot breathe normally, as if he does not have enough air.
3. Excessive anxiety, barking, ignoring newborn puppies. An owner who has been monitoring his pet's behavior for a long time can easily notice a change in behavior. The dog is constantly fussing and rarely sits in one place.
4. Vomit. Unlike the above symptoms, which are long-term, vomiting is infrequent.
5. Increased body temperature and palpitations.
6. Damage to the central nervous system, which is accompanied by tremors and convulsions.
7. Loss of movement coordination.

Veterinarians claim that this condition is dangerous for the dog and requires intervention, since the animal cannot cope with the problem on its own. The owner has little time to save the dog.

Special food

Proper nutrition is important. A week before giving birth and immediately after the puppies appear, you should significantly reduce meat and fish products. It is better to exclude them from the diet altogether. During this period, it is necessary to provide a strict dairy diet - milk, cottage cheese, bifid, fermented milk products. You can give your dog oatmeal and pearl barley porridge with sugar.

It is very useful to introduce calcium supplements into your diet. The most popular such products are Canina Canipulver, Canina Calcina Calcium Citrat, Beaphar Calcium, 8in1 Calcidee .

Eclampsia in dogs

Eclampsia in dogs is an acute lack of calcium in the blood, which is life-threatening for the animal. It can develop both in late pregnancy and within a month after birth. During this period, it is very important to recognize the pathology and provide timely assistance.

Symptoms of postpartum eclampsia

If you notice one or more symptoms in a pregnant or recently given birth dog, take her to the doctor immediately:

Symptoms associated with respiratory depression, limb tremors and loss of balance require immediate medical attention - within one to two hours. Other signs of eclampsia in dogs after birth also require immediate consultation with a veterinarian - at least by phone.

In severe cases, the dog may have repeated bouts of shaking, incoordination, drooling, and seizures for 5 to 10 minutes. In this case, an immediate intravenous injection of calcium solution with cardiac monitoring is necessary - this is done by a veterinarian. After this, the doctor prescribes a complex of calcium supplements and prepares a competent diet.

Dogs of small and medium breeds are predisposed to eclampsia, especially if a large number of puppies are born. If bitches have already had eclampsia in previous pregnancies, it makes sense for the owner to take a course in intravenous injections. A calcium injection can save an animal's life if it is not possible to quickly get veterinary help - but self-injections must be approved by a veterinarian.

Why does eclampsia occur in dogs after giving birth?

In 90% of cases, eclampsia in a dog after birth is associated with poor nutrition during pregnancy or lactation. In other cases, genetic predisposition and diseases play a decisive role.

The main causes of eclampsia in dogs:

• Supplementing calcium to a dog's diet during pregnancy without a doctor's prescription.
• Unbalanced nutrition during pregnancy or after childbirth - an excess or deficiency of any elements.
• Diseases of the parathyroid gland - calcium is not absorbed due to a lack of hormones.
• Breed predisposition and at the same time a large number of puppies - small dogs produce milk quickly, and the body does not have time to replenish calcium losses.
• Kidney disease—calcium is removed from the body too quickly.

How to prevent eclampsia in dogs?

There are two main ways to prevent this pathology: visiting a veterinarian at the beginning of pregnancy to monitor the condition and proper nutrition during pregnancy and after childbirth.

Nutritional guidelines to help prevent postpartum eclampsia in dogs:

Particular attention should be paid to small dogs; eclampsia is more common in them. From the first day of estrus, the bitch can be switched from regular food to a special food for reproductive bitches weighing up to 10 kg ROYAL CANIN® HT 42d Small Dog. They need to feed the animal until the 42nd day of pregnancy. After this, you can switch to ROYAL CANIN®Mini Starter food for lactating dogs.

Medium breed dogs are also predisposed to eclampsia, but suffer from it slightly less frequently than miniature dogs. Bitches of medium breeds are also transferred from the first day of estrus from everyday food to food for reproductive bitches by weight (if the dog weighs up to 10 kg - the same food as for a small breed; if the weight is more than 10 kg - food ROYAL CANIN®HT 42d Large Dog). The dog should be fed it until the 42nd day of pregnancy, after which it should be switched to the ROYAL CANIN®Starter Medium line.

Eclampsia occurs less frequently in large and giant breed dogs, but there is still a risk. From the first day of estrus until the 42nd day of pregnancy, ROYAL CANIN®HT 42d Large Dog food is suitable for reproductive bitches weighing over 10 kg; after the 42nd day of pregnancy, you need to switch the dog to the Starter line food, depending on the weight of Maxi or Giant.

The choice of food is always agreed with a veterinarian. If there is a shortage or absence of milk in a nursing dog, the doctor may prescribe a milk replacer for puppies ROYAL CANIN®Babydog Milk or ROYAL CANIN®Puppy Pro Tech. This will help prevent postpartum eclampsia if the bitch cannot cope with the number of puppies and her milk is not enough.

A pregnant or lactating dog should not be overfed and mineral, calcium and other supplements should not be introduced into its diet without the consent of a doctor.

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Ignoring food and water as the first symptom of complications

After the dog's labor is over, the owner can breathe a sigh of relief and relax a little. If the puppies are active, eat well, and the young mother takes care of the offspring, we can say that the most difficult stage is over. However, you will have to be attentive for at least two more days, since the mother and her offspring are under threat.

Inexperienced owners often hope for luck, believing that their pet is healthy and will not have complications. Even the strongest, youngest and healthiest dogs are not immune from postpartum complications.

Note! Statistically, postpartum complications are more common in small and miniature breed dogs.

Even if you are sure that the birth took place without complications, you must invite a veterinarian within 48 hours after the babies are born. The doctor will examine the young mother and assess her condition. In addition, a veterinarian should examine the offspring. Common postpartum complications can occur within hours or even days. Unfortunately, almost all of them give acute symptoms and a dangerous clinical picture. The owner does not have much time to provide assistance, and if there is delay, even the veterinarian may be powerless.

Should I be concerned if a dog who recently gave birth refuses to eat? It is quite normal for a new mother to refuse food for 2-5 hours after giving birth. There are several reasons for this behavior: the dog is tired, overworked, has experienced severe stress and pain, wants to sleep and desperately wants to take care of the offspring. In addition, during the birth process, the dog instinctively eats the puppies' placenta, which helps compensate for the loss of nutrients and trace elements.