hi everybody im a little confused AGAIN lol i went to my vets today as he told me to supplement kuma calcium when she starts labour lastime i took her (1/05/08) BUT even tho she hasnt shown any signs of imminent labour (shes now 57 days) he has told me to start giving her 2x 108g calcium tablets per day til labour begins, 6 tablets each day shes in labour, 3 tablets per day for 3 days after whelping finishes then 2 tablets per day til box finished (108 tablets).
Reason im confused is i have read many different sites and they have said supplementing calcium before whelp can be dangerous, i know hes a vet and REALLY i should listen to him but after reading that im abit dubious about giving them to her.
I didnt take kuma with me to the vet as not to stress her so she has no medical reason i no of for this to be supplemented before labour and she had a calcium injection alongside a oxytocin injection when in labour lasttime due to resting for 2-4 hours inbetween pups (8 pups), but nothing was given before or afterwards and she was perfectly fine.
Like i say i no i should listen to him but what do you think from experiance etc?

Articles I have read suggest that Calcium supplementation before whelping is more likely to cause Eclampsia as the bitches body fails to rally it's own calcium reserves due to being supplemented.

Any supplements should only be given if the bitch fails to rally her own during lactation.

I would never give calcium before whelping, had one really bad case of Eclampsia years ago, thankfully haven't since, but I hope I never had to see it again, this bitch was given calcium before whelping, as like your vet suggest, mine said the same.

Isn't this one of the reasons most of us feed puppy food for the last few weeks of pregnancy?  the bitch gets all the extra nutrients she needs but in a form and quantity thats appropriate.

Personally I wouldn't supplement, as others have said, if it isn't broke there's no need to fix it ;)

I give Collo Cal D as advised by the vet after, even though she ate well and had a full chicken every other day, I had a bitch almost die with Hypocalceamia with 5 week old pupies. I start 2 days before whelping and continue until the pups are fully weaned. It is not advisable to give calcium before that as you trick the body into thinking the calcium stores are full and the body stops making it. As the calcium is leached from the bitch during feeding you are constantly topping up the bodies natrual supply and any excessis excreted in the urine.
Hope this helps
Diane

thanks all think im gonna sack the vet lol day 58 and still no sign of pups yet although shes started losing the clear discharge again but not getting my hopes up its meaning anything lol