Has anyone come across this beofre. She has 4 days to go and is huge. Took her to the vets who scanned her (pups all ok so far and not distressed)and says it is not a very common thing. She did not thing any cause for concern but says there was not much fluid and she would expect things to happen in next day or two. Just curious really as when I googled it I could not find any info as to why it occurs.

This is a human site:

http://www.nativeremedies.com/ailment/nonpitting-and-pitting-edema.html

which says:

Pregnancy can cause edema in the legs as the uterus puts pressure on the vena cava, a major blood vessel that returns blood to the heart from the legs, and progesterone relaxes the walls of the blood vessels.

So causes are probably similar in the bitch.

But there are breeds that can get oedema not related to pregnancy too:

http://www.upei.ca/cidd/Diseases/clinical%20pathology/lymphedema.htm

Yeah. Thanks for that. I had it quite badly with one of my pregnacies. Got pre eclampsia which is why I was so worried about the dog. Guess the Vet was not too worried so hopefully all will be ok. She fast asleep by woodburner at the mo,

This has happened to one of my bitches.  She got swollen legs just days before she was due and I was obviously worried.  The vet said not to worry, just to keep an eye.  It didn't seem to worry her and went when she had the pups - a lovely healthy litter of 11 and a trouble free whelping.

A Friends bitch had these symptoms and it was Pre-Eclampsia and she lost both bitch and puppies as the Vet didn't think there was a problem.

The bitches daughter from her first litter when pregnant was monitored very carefully for any signs of this and fortunately didn't have problems.

I suggest the Vet quickly and don't be fobbed off until they have checked blood pressure etc and ruled this out.

Thanks Brainless
Do you know exactly what symptoms the bitch was showing. gaby seems okay but just has swelling in her legs though she is enormous. She is eating and ok apart from being uncomfortable. The scan showed that pups were ok and not appearing distressed.

This bitch was fine just the swollen legs,b tu it was the blood pressure that got dangerously high and her heart gave out as a result, just like with pre-eclmpsia in humans.

She was fine, but huge and uncomfortable one minute and dead the next.

I spoke to my Vet this morning and he says he personally has never seen pre eclampsia in a dog, only in other animals. He feels as long as no other neurological signs that all should be okay. He has given me his home number, so just hope he is right. Also just told me to massage her legs and keep her moving to encourage fluid to disperse. Thanks anyway for input.

http://www.cardiganwelshcorgisocietyireland.org/CWCSI_PreTetanicEcampsia.pdf

http://www.kathylang.com/eclampsia.htm

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/80304.htm

http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/eclampsia.html

Been hunting out more links. Do you think it's maybe worth getting your vet to check her blood pressure and blood calcium - a lot of what I've looked at says many vets aren't familiar with pre-tetanic eclampsia in bitches.

Sorry, been worrying. :-D Is she doing OK?

I'm sorry dogs do get it!!  We lost a Pomeranian many years ago to it.

Yes - that is what I was saying perrodeagua.....

> I spoke to my Vet this morning and he says he personally has never seen pre eclampsia in a dog

I lost a Golden to it about 12 years ago so it does exist, your vet may never have seen it but it most certainly does exist.

I really hope your bitch doesn't have it and that she will be as right as rain pronto. 

My bitch had edema in her Vulva VERY serverely 3 days beforwe whelping,  We called her babboon bum lol  vet says it was just her drainage/circulation messed up cos of lots of pups, and it dispersed as soon as labour started. I would still get her checked for eclampsia ( as i did ) but just to let you know it can be just harmless fluid

xx

Well she is still much the same with the swollenlegs. Vet has just checked her out and still not concerned but says he may do Caesarian tomorrow if nothing happens tonight

Thanks babbiesmum. that is pretty much what my Vet has just said. How many pups did you get?
x

9 ! 4 naturally and then one who was a small one got stuck (she bent nearly in half in birth canal !)  then a further 5 by CS , we were concerned about 'little miss bendy' for a few days but at day 11 now she has doubled weight and one eye opening  already so doing great :-), good luck with yours  !!
x

Thanks again Will post when I have an update.

Just a quickie
After a late night vet check all now going well. 7 pups so far. Thnx

How's it going ?

Had 9 then when I was just cleaned up she popped out one more nearly 4 hours later so 10 in all . off to bed now with half an eye open on her, shattered but happy..Thanks for asking. Mum and Babies fine so far.

Ahhh....congratulations !!!!!