Eclampsia in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

Causes of Eclampsia in Dogs

Eclampsia is caused by a lack of calcium within the mother's body, so she is unable to meet the calcium demands to provide for her puppies. Various reasons for this deficiency in calcium include:

  • Producing milk to nurse her puppies
  • Loss of calcium from the mother to the developing fetal skeletons
  • An underactive/diseased parathyroid gland (the gland that controls the body's calcium levels)

Calcium supplementation during pregnancy - Giving the mom too much calcium during pregnancy can suppress parathyroid hormone production. When the mother gives birth and her milk comes in, the demand for calcium suddenly increases and the parathyroid gland isn't able to respond quickly enough to meet her calcium needs.




Symptoms of Eclampsia:

  • Weakness
  • Tremors
  • Restlessness/nervousness
  • Panting
  • Change in behavior
  • Rapid, heavy breathing
  • Disorientation
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Incoordination/difficulty walking
  • Sensitivity to sound, light, and touch
  • Tetany (entire body goes stiff)
  • Hyperthermia (body temperature rises)
  • Seizures
  • Coma
  • Dilated Pupils
  • Muscle Rigidity


Treating Eclampsia in Dogs

Treatment for eclampsia in dogs requires IV administration of calcium until the mom can maintain her calcium levels. Intravenous calcium must be administered slowly to prevent complications like cardiac arrest. Heart rate is usually monitored during administration of calcium to avoid bradycardia (slow heart rate) or arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat).

If your dog is showing signs of eclampsia, you should contact your vet immediately and prevent the puppies from nursing. If treated promptly, there's a good chance that your dog will recover quickly.

Lots of Love Pet Products - Calcium Now

Calcium Now is a fast-absorbing, oral calcium formula for dogs and cats showing signs of calcium deficiency, including those showing signs of eclampsia. It contains three forms of calcium to ensure it is easily and rapidly absorbed, making it ideal for pets that require a quick dose of calcium. It can provide supplemental calcium to animals during whelping and support milk production after whelping. Learn more about the ingredients in our oral calcium for whelping dogs and how they work together to deliver a wide variety of benefits!

You can read more about this topic from our blog post article published on our site.

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