hi i was reading some old posts earlier today and came accross a few threads on eclampsia (sorry if iv spelt it wrong!). i was wondering if you could give me any more info like what i shud look out for- the warning signs etc? is it very common? my bitch is a cocker so is it usual for them to get it and can i give her anything to prevent it? i already know that you shouldn't in any circumstances give her calcium before the birth but is there anything else to be wary of? thanks again for all the information you can give me!
Liz

I gave my girl a Calcium supplement from the vet, Collo Cal D, 3 x 5ml daily, from the time she finished whelping, but she still developed eclampsia, so if there is something out there to prevent it, I wish somebody could tell me about it too, she ate a very good puppy kibble from 5 weeks pregnant and was in top form at the time of mating!

I gave my bitch liquid calcium in between whelping each puppy.20mls of liquid Sandoz after each puppy was born.Apparently bitches lose an awful amount of calcium during the birthing process.I have never had any problems,in fact vets often give a calcium shot to help bring on the next pup if the bitch has taken a long time between pups being born.

It may be a Calcium shot your Vet gave to bring on the next puppy but I think if you check it out it probably was a drug called Oxytocin. This drug is designed to restart contractions when they have stalled. Calcium does not have that property.

I don't agree with your practice of giving Calcium Sandoz between the whelping of each puppy. My philosphy is to not intervene anymore than absolutely necessary. You may be giving one - more than your bitch requires and two - it may not stop eclampsia anyway.

Margaret :( Canada

No it's not Oxytocin.It is calcium given intravenously.I administer Syntocin,which has replaced Oxytocin myself to the bitch when needed.It brings on strong contractions.
But I can assure you,the calcium does assist in whelping.Ask your vet.

I was given calcium to inject into my bitch as it does help the contractions

The calcium is given because the oxytocin or syntocin used to start the contractions decreases the calcium in the bitch. You have to be very careful when you give calcium in any form according to my Vet. It can cause a lot of damage if you overdose. The calcium does not technically aid the contractions but is just replacing the calcium used up by the oxytocin or syntocin used to stimulate the bitch to start pushing .

Margaret :( Canada

Hi, Have you got the Book of the Bitch by Kay White and Jim Evans - if not do get it asap. I haven't experienced this in my bitches so haven't any personal experience. I think they are very distracted, increasingly uninterested in their puppies and become very hyper, often with severe trembling. Trouble is that newly whelped bitches can behave a bit like this, when there is nothing really wrong, especially first timers. Once Eclampsia is a little more advanced bitches leave the puppies and may scratch furiously at the walls and thier behaviour become increasingly odd, and will evenmtually collapse, needing immediate intravenus calcium to revive them and if they dont get it quickly enough may die. If you are in any doubt about her at any time after whelping I would just call the vet out - dont upset her further by actually taking her to the vet unless he wont/cant come out.