Despite the fact that dogs are considered the most enduring animals, pregnancy and childbirth for friends of our smaller ones are not 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 behind, thereby making an unforgivable mistake. Eclampsia in dogs after childbirth is a very serious disease that needs to be treated as soon as possible.
What is eclampsia in dogs?
This disease is also called "milk fever," or postpartum tetany. First of all, the smallest dogs suffer from this ailment. During pregnancy, the animal loses vitamins important for the life of the body, such as calcium. This very important element is the main cause of postpartum eclampsia.
All calcium in the dog's body is spent on the formation of skeletons of future puppies. Oddly enough, the disease does not affect the future offspring, but it can lead to the death of the mother herself. condition hypocalcemia occurs when calcium in the blood decreases (less than 1.7 mmol / l).
Development reasons
As 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 calcium content in the dog’s blood could be affected by the nutrition of the animal. If a dog consumed only meat products during the whole pregnancy, the body could start working in the opposite direction, especially if it has serious kidney problems. Thus, the body, observing an excess of calcium, could begin to get rid of excess, which ultimately led to a deficiency.
In addition, low albumin levels could affect pathology. This is due to violations of the intake of protein in the body and its excretion. Also of great importance in eclampsia in a dog after childbirth is increased milk production. If the female has many puppies, a calcium deficiency occurs in the body, which means that the risk of getting sick increases several times. Rarely enough, 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 lactating dogs after childbirth are busy with their puppies and rarely show activity, therefore, the issue of the condition of the dog should be carefully considered. Veterinarians note that eclampsia is very dangerous, because during the period of feeding the puppies the animal loses calcium more and more and experiences its greatest deficiency.
The main symptoms of the disease are:
- Photophobia. The dog’s muscles relax, and the whole body directs its attention to the salvation of vital organs. The animal's pupils dilate, and it is constantly looking for a dark place to take cover.
- Severe shortness of breath. This happens if the animal’s pulse is above normal. The dog cannot breathe normally, as if it lacks air.
- Excessive anxiety, barking, ignoring newborn puppies. The owner, who has been following the behavior of his pet for a long time, can easily notice a change in behavior. The dog constantly fusses and rarely sits in one place.
- Vomiting Unlike the above symptoms, which are long-term in nature, vomiting is infrequent.
- An increase in body temperature and a strong heartbeat.
- Damage to the central nervous system, which is accompanied by tremors and cramps.
- Loss of coordination of movement.
Veterinarians claim that this condition is dangerous for the dog and requires intervention, since the animal can not cope with the problem on its own. The owner does not have much time to save the dog.
Stages of the development of the disease
Eclampsia in a dog after childbirth is divided into several stages. Signs of the disease appear sequentially, so the owner of the animal will be easiest to determine at what stage of the disease is his pet.
On the first stage symptoms of irritability and aggressiveness are manifested, the dog is constantly in an anxious state, as if some danger is approaching. Everything is accompanied by rapid breathing and increased heart rate.
On the second stage the animal loses its orientation in space. It may fall out of the blue or stumble. The owner may have the feeling that the dog has forgotten how to walk. Excessive salivation also appears. The female may not approach and ignore the offspring (but this is rare). Symptoms such as fever and cramps in the limbs may occur a little later.
On the third stage severe hyperthermia and cerebral edema occur. The animal at this stage is at great risk and may not survive, even if the owner takes measures.
It should be noted that symptoms can develop two weeks after birth. In rare cases, eclampsia begins during pregnancy in dogs.
Treatment
First of all, the pet owner should not panic, noticing the above symptoms in your pet. If it is not possible to contact a veterinarian soon, the owner must be able to give injections. The first step is to provide the dog with warmth, covering it with a warm blanket. Be sure to give the animal Corvalol up to 30 drops (if the dog is small, 5-10 drops will be enough). You can give the dog an enema from saline 1%. If you can give an intramuscular injection, then inject 0.3 ml of sulfocamphocamine.
If you do not have such skills, then you should definitely contact your veterinarian. Do not ignore the symptoms, because eclampsia in a dog after childbirth is very dangerous. In the meantime, expecting a doctor, it is necessary to remove the acute condition of Corvalol and salt enema. After that, you can give the dog calcium tablets or injections in order to keep the desired level of calcium in the blood. Already in the first stage, you can effectively help the animal and prevent the disease from progressing further. You can give your pet a calcium gluconate ampoule (pour the contents into the mouth). Dog owners should remember that self-medication is absolutely impossible without special preparation. It is best to remove the acute condition of the pet and take it to the doctor.
Or if the owner is engaged in professional dog breeding, he must first take courses to be able to immediately help the sick animal.
In a professional clinic, a dog will first take a blood test to find out the level of calcium in the blood. After that, the veterinarians will infuse gluconate calcium. All this is done under constant control of the heartbeat. Eclampsia in a dog after childbirth is easily treatable if you seek qualified help on time.
Prevention 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 giving birth, you need to completely change the pet's diet. A mandatory component is the complete exclusion of meat from the dog’s diet and the addition of dairy products. Sometimes after the birth of the puppies, the dog is stressed and may refuse to eat.
In this case, feeding the dog after childbirth should be carried out by force. The dog should not be allowed to experience hunger, this can lead to pathology. A dog that feeds puppies is at great risk, since all the beneficial substances from the mother’s body are transferred with milk to the puppies. If eclampsia after childbirth still touched the animal, then puppies should be immediately transferred to artificial feeding until the mother recovers.
Consequences of the disease
Calcium is a key element in the metabolism of all mammals. Without it, the absorption of magnesium is impossible. Therefore, eclampsia in a dog after childbirth can cause great harm to the body of the animal. At the onset of the third stage, the internal organs begin to fail in the animal, and the general condition worsens.
The dog ceases to control its actions. Brain edema sets in and the pet dies. Therefore, the owner of the animal should immediately seek help from veterinarians. It must be remembered that eclampsia in a dog after childbirth does not go away on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
How likely is it that the dog will start eclampsia?
The disease is quite rare. Cases of referral to a veterinary clinic are rare. Not all dogs show eclampsia after childbirth.
Is it possible to predict the occurrence of the disease?
You can do prevention during pregnancy in dogs. This can predict whether eclampsia will develop in dogs after birth. Symptoms, treatment and causes of the development of the disease, or rather, their knowledge, will help the owner to completely avoid complications and prepare.
Which breeds are most susceptible to disease?
Mostly small and medium sized dogs are affected. The disease rarely affects large dogs.