Acute parturient hypocalcemia in bitches

ACUTE PARTURIENT HYPOCALCEMIA IN BITCHES

Synonym: Eclampsia, Peurperal tetany

Definition

  • It is a metabolic disease occurring commonly in young bitches within 2-10 days of whelping and clinically characterized by restlessness, excitement, panting and tonic-clonic convulsions.

Etiology: Hypocalcaemia

Predisposing factors

  • Atony of smooth muscle and skeletal muscle
  • Improper prenatal nutrition
  • In appropriate calcium supplementation
  • Improper prenatal nutrition
  • Heavy litter size
  • Lactation in young bitches
  • Toy breeds
  • Neuromuscular tetany
  • Concurrent hypoglycemia is the cause of signs of tonoclonic convulsions.
Clinical signs
  • Restlessness
  • Excitement
  • Poor maternal care
  • Salivation
  • Dyspepsia
  • Increased respiratory rate
  • Panting
  • Stiffness of joints
  • Ataxia and staggering gait
  • Tonoclonic convulsions
  • Opisthotonus
  • Hyperthemia
  • Stiff tilted gait due to muscular tetany

Dignosis

  • History of late pregnancy and early lactation
  • Clinical signs are always observed in nourshing bitches
  • Characterstic symptoms
  • Low serum calcium level - less than 7 mg/dl
  • Low blood glucose - less than 80 mg/dl

Treatment

  • Remove the sucking puppies
  • 25% calcium borogluconate 1ml/kg b.wt slow I/V
  • 20% dextrose 30-50ml slow I/V
  • To control Fits - Diazepam 0.5 mg /kg b.wt slow I/V
Last modified: Thursday, 19 January 2012, 6:12 AM