Hi, I am a newbie but would like to ask some advice please. I had a first litter from my large breed bitch a few months ago (Her mother didn't have any problems with eclampsia) and she developed Eclampsia and then Mastitis when the pups were 4 weeks old. I got her to the vet in time and she was okay after treatment. For various reasons, I couldn't keep a pup from the litter and she is now my only breeding bitch. I have asked my vet what the risk is of her developing Eclampsia on a future litter would be and they say we can test her blood every week and give her calcium if needed. I love my bitch dearly but having another litter from her in a year or so will be the only hope of continuing my line. I don't know any other breeders in my breed who have had Eclampsia to ask. Would you risk another litter even if she was monitored closely. The vets don't know why she developed it - she was not fed calcium while pregnant and was on a premuim puppy kibble. Please can anyone offer advice on what they would do please. I have sucessfully shown her and her mother and had ALL the health tests done and some that I don't have to do - CNM and Optigen and I am producing good puppies, hence why I wish to keep my line going.

Many thanks    

With a serious metabolic problem like a calcium mobilisation disorder, this decision should be made with your vet.

Hi,
My vet said she may be prone to eclampsia or she may not have it again but they could take blood every week to test for calcium levels.

Personallly, I wouldn't.  I wouldn't want to risk my beloved girl.   I would trawl back through my line, and find either a bitch from her previous litter or a sibling, and would keep the line going that way - which is what we, as a family, did to keep a (very insignificant to any but ourselves) line going for over 30 years.

This is a difficult one..the OP doesn't have a 'line' to go back through and only has this bitch to breed from.

Looking at 'The bigger picture', and I'm sorry if this doesn't seem pertinent right now - but it will in the future.

Dont start off breeding from a line of animals which have major problems from the start. Someway down the line you will have cause to say " Oh dear another case- what do I do now?" these things come back to haunt us and this problem is not just a little cosmetic thing like light eyes - it's potentially deadly.

If you are willing to risk your bitch to mate again then be prepared for this problem to re occur and the same question to be asked.

Her mum has had 2 litters with no problems and the vet has said Eclampsia is not heriditory but I see what you mean. I personally don't think I can risk it, not after it happening once, I would be stupid to even try!    

Good luck in whatever you decide :)

Eclampsia and mastitis, I wouldn't risk her again, mastitis can also re-appear in her next litter.  I would go back a generation or two and start again with another bitch or perhaps have a pup from one of her pups in the future if there are any potential good breeding bitches there, with some imput if possible to the Sire, if your bitch's pups are endorsed you may well be able to recommend a good Sire.

I know how important it is to keep a line going so feel very sorry for you, but your bitch could have been so close to death in my heart I could not risk that, I would either buy in another bitch or use one of her pups if you can.