Had to take Star to vets last night. She kept panting, hiding behind the chair and digging holes in cushions. generally agitated. I thought it might be early eclampsia but vet said this does not usually happen till 2/3 weeks after whelping. He thought there could have been another pup so did scan(inconclusive) so then did x ray. No pup! He then decided to administer calcium gluconate IV 'just in case' but put her on ecg machine while giving it. he also gave her rimadyl for afterpains and antiobotics. She is a bit better this morning but still panting a lot.
Sue

Hi Sue, sorry to hear about Star. Bonnie had eclampsia when the pups where 10 dys old it so it can happen earlier than 2/3 wks. If it is eclampsia you should see an improvement soon after the calciun injection is given & you`ve caught it quick enough, tho I doubt she would be able to feed the pups! Hope she get`s better soon, whatever it is :)
Christine, Spain.

My first bitch had eclampsia when the pups were 3 days!! Symptoms just like yours - panting and frantic digging and trying to hide. I was told this was because I'd given her calcium supplements before whelping, and that as the milk came in for her reasonable sized litter (10, not a huge litter for a dalmatian) the sudden drop of blood calcium from too high to low was the reason. A calcium injection calmed her, and I had to give her liquid calcium for a few days, but she fed and reared the pups happily after that.

I would agree with the others Eclampsia can occur very soon after birth in some bitches, but is more likely at peak lactation at 2 or 3 weks because of the drain on the bitch.

I would seek a second Opinion if after the calcium he gave her wears off, and she has the same symptoms.

A bitch I whelped for freinds in the breed had been unwell in the latter part of her pregnancy, and she ended up with a C section, and the vet found she had very low calcium levels, and had to have calo cal d supplementation tthroughout her lactation to prevent eclampsia!

i whelped a staffie litter whos dam developed it the very first night!! :(

Hi Star,
Both of my bitches displayed the same behaviour after whelping - I discussed this at length with my vet who explained that it was the bitches reaction to pain - likewise as a bitch will display the same behaviour during contractions shortly before whelping. This behaviour is due to the uterus contracting back into place after whelping. my bitches carried on like this for approx. a week after whelping and became less frequent as time went on. Just to ensure that there was not anything untoward happening - I safeguarded myself by not only gently bathing my bitch every morning and evening but also taking her temperature twice a day.

With our flatcoats, it's often low blood sugar, especially with a large litter. We give dilute condensed (sugary) milk to drink through the day, and as it's usually worse in the early hours, we give cooked pasta with the last meal of the day, then digestive biscuits just before we go to bed ourselves.

All with supportive calcium therapy.

I know it sounds a weird diet (of course they get the normal very highest quallity diet as well!) but it works for us.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats