With so many of us having litters at the moment I was wondering how many people give calcium supplements post whelping?  If you do, what dosage do you give?

I wasn't giving it, but the vet suggested yesterday I should be.  On coming home to read about it, it does mention that actually giving calcium can cause eclampsia.

It seems like every day I am worrying about something new, often needlessly and therefore would welcome every ones opinion.

Hi with my first litter I gave calcium post whelp, 10 days later the mum had eclampsia. Next 2 litters I did the same but fortunately no more eclampsia. This whelping the mums been raw fed, had 10 pups & I`ve not given her any calcium at all :)

Christine, Spain.

I think a diet rich in calcium rather than suppliments is the answer and those feeding BARF should I would have thought be ok. For the non barf good sources of calcium ..obviously milk ( cow not recommended though lots of dogs have no problem with it)and a little cheese and tinned fish including the bones which have become soft in the canning process (not in brine of course). I used to buy sheeps heads (yuk I know) pressure cook till soft than mince 'on fine' and you end up with a wonderful concotion that resembles pate. Good for bitches and puppies :-)

I have never given calcium supplements because of the risk of eclampsia,but i know what you mean it is very frustrating when you hear and read so many conflicting opinions on this.I think if you feed a GOOD QUALITY complete food(either puppy growth formula or one especialy for pregnant/lactating bitches)as i do, then there really is no need to add anything else as this should have sufficent amount.

With the first litter she was on hills puppy, 2nd & 3rd was Eukanuba puppy & it was vets advice to give calcium post whelping. I just know I`ve not given any supps with this raw fed lot & no probs :)

Christine, Spain.

2 weeks post whelping I give calcium supplements....on the advise of my vet, my girl had a real bad case of eclampsia with her first litter and there was no way I was going to risk that again, this was without calcium.  She was on a very rich complete puppy food, but it didn't help at all......ended up having to wean pups at 3 weeks luckily they were hungry little pups and soon got stuck in to their puppy mush food and formula milk, but from that time on, I ALWAYS give calcium after whelping, plus I get weekly  calcium levels checked at the vet, via a blood test.

You may not need to give it, but knowing my girls history I'd rather be safe than sorry.

...I meant to add I would give calcium rich foods in addition to a complete dog food instead of a suppliment. I understand many suppliments and extra vitamins (for humans as well as dogs) can't be broken down and absorbed by the body because some other thing is lacking. Therefore in general it is better to give foods rich in whatever extra substance may be required  because they are more easily used by the body. Hope this makes sence..Meg rambling again :-)
Obviously I would not go against the advice of a vet but would ask which form of supplementation was best :-)

i don't give extra but i do make sure that the feeding mum gets plenty of chicken , fish and meat at this time

I give liquid Collo-Cal D  it tells you on the bottle how much to give depending on the weight of the bitch.

I only give calcium the day after whelping. IF all is well then dont mess with
nature. I would never be with out it though. Because a couple of years ago
I noticed my bitch went skittish the day after her litter, she tried to pick up
the puppies and bite them. So I gave her some calcium and she calmed right
down. I called the vet who said that was the best thing to do, he would come
out if she was no better. So I gave her calcuim for a few days and she was fine.
I then experienced it again with another bitch. After whelping within about 24hours they dont seem themselves. So I give it to the bitch and they go back to normal again. I would not give it pre-whelping. As I too have read it can do more damage, such as give eclampsia.
Nutkin

This is one of those vexed question which seem to split the Veterinary profession.  Several years ago I always gave calcium supplement, pre- and post-whelping, aand had to rush a vitch to the vets with eclampsia.  This is when I discovered my Vet was most definetly not in favour, seeing calcium supplements as a major cause of ecalmpsia.    Have never given supplements since, just made sure the diet is rich in calcium itself, with goats milk, cheese, canned oily fish etc.  and have never had another case of eclampsia since.  Also feed the bitches Eukanuba puppy whilst in whelp (those who will carry on eating complete, that is :))
bye
Gwen

Oh dear, am I any the clearer?  NO!!!

She is being a picky eater at the moment and would eat sardines last week but not this, turns her nose up at bones today and didn't even want scrambled egg.  Roast chicken was a winner as was goats milk and yoghurt. 

At what stage can you sit back, relax and know they won't suffer from eclampsia?

<<At what stage can you sit back, relax and know they won't suffer from eclampsia?>>

Probably by the time the pups are 6 months old. ;)
:D

I`m only just about starting to relax about eclampsia!!!! My pups are 4wks old tomorrow :D Goat milk is excellent, she turned fussy the day after having them, it was a nightmare for me not for her tho, I gave her what she wanted to eat which was only meat & very meaty bones & sometimes goat milk, no veg/fish/supps nothing!!!

<Probably by the time the pups are 6 months old>

And then you`re wondering hips/eyes/elbows/shoulders etc etc & it goes on & on lol :D :D

Christine, Spain.

The only food i feed for 2/3 days post whelping is boiled chicken (filleted breasts)boiled rice scrambled eggs and sometimes peas all mixed together,bit like a special fried rice only boiled lol,and they absolutely love it,nice light meal for them and they are usually ready to go back to complete after that.

personally, i dont give extra calcium. The only extra I give is liver and Kelp (seaweed) If my girl wont eat the liver, she has no choice with the kelp, she gets it anyway!!  never faild me yet!

Jacky,

Not sure if you are doing this already but I find mine prefer their food and lactol drinks etc warm for the first week.  Not sure what the others do but I sit beside mine and feed them in the box generally hand feeding them. Freshly cooked chicken etc.

I never gave Calcium to my bitch with my first litter and she was raw fed with chicken wings etc everyday. She did have the signs of eclampsia which we caught quickly, one injection and the calcium daily helped she did have a bigger than average litter for a westie. (6)

I use the liquid one in with the lactol now as a precaution.

I am told though that there is no 100% evidence what actually triggers it.

My girl had eclampsia 3 weeks post whelping.......although she showed signs at 2 weeks (and my vet said she had a slipped disc as she couldn't stand :-( )  She had a litter last year, but we had her calcium levels checked weekly even though we were giving her the calcium supplement.  Her levels started dropping dangerously low (even with calcium) around 16 days post whelping, so we normally start giving solids pretty early to her pups, to ease the pressure from mum

Oh dear...now I am confused too about calcium supplementing. She was fed a puppy food formula through  the last weeks of pregnancy, and will continue on that. She hasn't gotten her appetite back yet...she did eat some rice with a bit of puppy food and a lot of broth. I'm sure it will just be a matter of a couple days before she eats me out of house and home. :D