Eclampsia in the dog after childbirth: symptoms, treatment and prevention

Despite the fact that dogs are considered to be the most hardy animals, pregnancy and childbirth for our lesser friends can not do without risk. Most owners of different breeds pay attention to the dog during pregnancy. And when the long-awaited day comes and the puppies are born, many owners sigh with relief and think that the worst is over, thereby allowing an unforgivable mistake. Eclampsia in dogs after childbirth is a very serious disease that needs prompt treatment.

What is eclampsia in dogs?

This disease is also called "dairy fever", or postpartum tetany. First and foremost, the smallest dogs suffer from such an ailment. During pregnancy, the animal loses vital vitamins, for example, calcium. It is this most important element that is the main cause of postpartum eclampsia.

All the calcium in the dog's body is spent on the formation of the skeletons of future puppies. Ironically, the disease does not affect the future offspring, but can lead to the death of the mother herself. condition Hypocalcemia Occurs with the condition of a decrease in calcium in the blood (less than 1.7 mmol / l).

Causes of development

As already mentioned earlier, the main cause of eclampsia is a decrease in the level of calcium in the blood. Pathology develops during pregnancy in dogs and after childbirth. The diet of the animal could affect the calcium content in the dog's blood. If the entire pregnancy the dog consumed only meat products, the body could begin to work in the opposite direction, especially if it has serious problems with the kidneys. Thus, the body, observing the excess of calcium, could begin to get rid of excess, which eventually led to a deficit.

In addition, the pathology could be affected by a low level of albumin. This is due to violations of the intake of protein in the body and its elimination. Also of great importance for eclampsia in the dog after childbirth is increased milk production. If the female has many puppies, calcium deficiency appears in the body, which means that the risk of getting sick increases several times. It is rare that a dog develops hypothyroidism, which also affects the development of the disease. It has already been noted that the smallest dogs are at greatest risk.

The main symptoms of the disease

Each owner should be attentive to the pet in the first few weeks of the postpartum period. Usually, nursing dogs after the birth are busy with their puppies and rarely show activity, so the question of the condition of the dog needs to be treated carefully. Veterinarians note that eclampsia is very dangerous, because during the feeding of puppies the animal loses calcium more and suffers a severe deficit.

The main symptoms of the disease are:

1. Photophobia. The muscles of the dog relax, and the whole body directs its attention to saving vital organs. The pupil is dilated in the animal, and it is constantly looking for a dark place to take refuge.
2. Severe shortness of breath. This happens if the animal's pulse is above normal. The dog can not breathe properly, it seems like there is not enough air.
3. Excess anxiety, barking, ignoring newborn puppies. The owner, who for a long time followed the behavior of his pet, can easily notice a change in behavior. The dog is constantly fussing and seldom sitting in one place.
4. Vomiting. In contrast to the above symptoms, which are long-term in nature, vomiting is infrequent.
5. Increased body temperature and strong palpitations.
6. The defeat of the central nervous system, which is accompanied by tremors and convulsions.
7. Loss of coordination of movement.

Veterinarians say that this condition is dangerous for the dog and requires intervention, since the animal can not cope with the problem on its own. To save the dog from the owner a little time.

Stages of development of the disease

Eclampsia in the dog after childbirth is divided into several stages. Symptoms of the disease manifest consistently, so the owner of the animal will be easiest to determine at which stage of the disease is his pet.

On First stage Symptoms of irritability and aggressiveness appear, the dog is constantly in an alarming state, as if some danger is approaching. Everything is accompanied by rapid breathing and increased heart rate.

On Second stage The animal loses its orientation in space. It can fall flat or stumble. The owner may have a feeling that the dog has forgotten how to walk. There is also a lot of salivation. The female can not approach and ignore the offspring (but this happens rarely). A little later, there may be symptoms such as fever and spasms of the limbs.

On The third stage There is a strong hyperthermia and cerebral edema. An animal at this stage is at great risk and may not survive, even if the owner takes action.

It should be noted that the symptoms can develop two weeks after the birth. In rare cases, eclampsia begins during pregnancy in dogs.

Treatment

First of all, the owner of the pet should not panic, having noticed the above symptoms from his pet. If there is no way to contact the vet soon, then the owner should be able to put the injections. The first thing to do is to provide the dog with warmth, covering with a warm blanket. Be sure to give the animal Corvalolum to 30 drops (if the dog is small, it will be enough 5-10 drops). You can inject the enema with a saline solution of 1%. If you can put an intramuscular injection, then enter 0.3 ml of sulphocamphomamine.

If you do not have these skills, then you should definitely contact the veterinarian. Do not ignore the symptoms, because eclampsia in the dog after birth is very dangerous. In the meantime, expect a doctor, you need to remove the acute condition of corvalol and hydrochloric enema. After this, you can give the dog calcium tablets or injections to keep the calcium level in the blood. Already at the first stage it is possible to effectively help the animal and prevent the disease from progressing further. You can give the pet a vial of calcium gluconate (pour the contents into the mouth). Owners of dogs should remember that self-medication without special training is absolutely impossible. It is best to remove the acute condition of the pet and take it to the doctor.

Or if the owner is engaged in the professional breeding of dogs, he must first take courses to be able to immediately help the affected animal.

In a professional clinic, the dog will first take a blood test to find out the level of calcium in the blood. After this, veterinarians will be infused intravenously Gluconate Calcium. All this is done under constant control of the heartbeat. Eclampsia in a dog after giving birth is easy to treat, if in time to seek qualified help.

Prophylaxis of eclampsia in dogs after childbirth

So what does the owner need to know in order to prevent the disease and completely prevent it? A few weeks before the birth, you need to completely change the diet of the pet. A mandatory component is the complete exclusion of meat from the diet of the dog and the addition of dairy products. Sometimes after the birth of puppies the dog is in a stressful state and can refuse to eat.

In this case, the feeding of the dog after childbirth must be done by force. You can not let a dog experience hunger, it can bring to a pathology. A dog that nurses puppies is at great risk, since all the beneficial substances from the mother's organism are transferred with milk to the puppies. If eclampsia after the delivery still touched the animal, then immediately transfer the puppies to artificial feeding until the mother is on the mend.

Consequences of the disease

Calcium is a key element of metabolism in the body of all mammals. Without it, it is impossible to assimilate magnesium. Therefore, eclampsia in the dog after childbirth can cause enormous damage to the animal's body. At the onset of the third stage, the internal organs begin to refuse in the animal, the general condition worsens.

The dog ceases to control its actions. There is a swelling of the brain, and the pet dies. Therefore, the owner of the animal should immediately seek help from veterinarians. It must be remembered that eclampsia in the dog after birth does not pass independently.

Frequently Asked Questions

How likely is it that a dog will begin eclampsia?

The disease is quite rare. Cases of treatment in a veterinary clinic are rare. Not all dogs show eclampsia after childbirth.

Is it possible to predict the appearance of the disease?

You can take preventive measures during pregnancy in dogs. This can predict whether eclampsia will develop in dogs after giving birth. Symptoms, treatment and causes of the disease, or rather, their knowledge, will help the owner completely avoid complications and prepare.

What breeds are most susceptible to the disease?

Mostly small and medium-sized dogs suffer. The disease rarely affects large dogs.