Eclampsia is a veterinary emergency
If your dog has recently had puppies and is panting heavily, pacing, trembling, walking stiffly, becoming distressed or behaving unusually, stop the puppies from feeding straight away and contact your vet.
Do not wait for seizures to begin. Do not delay veterinary treatment while attempting to give foods containing small amounts of calcium, such as cheese, yoghurt or goat’s milk, or trying an at-home remedy.
You may be raising one carefully planned litter from your much-loved family dog without ever thinking of yourself as a breeder. Even so, anyone caring for their girl during this crucial post-whelp period needs to recognise eclampsia, because its earliest signs can look deceptively mild and the condition can progress quickly.
Eclampsia in dogs: the quick answer
Eclampsia, also known as milk fever or lactational hypocalcaemia, is a dangerous fall in the calcium circulating in a female dog’s blood.
It occurs most often during the first few weeks of lactation, particularly around two to three weeks after whelping.
Early signs can include:
- Restlessness
- Panting
- Pacing
- Stiff movement
- Muscle twitching
- Tremors
- Unusual behaviour
Without treatment, eclampsia can progress to muscle spasms, seizures, collapse, coma and death. If you suspect eclampsia, prevent the puppies from feeding and seek emergency veterinary help.
What is eclampsia in dogs?
Calcium is essential for normal nerve signalling, muscle contraction and heart function.
When a dog is producing milk, calcium is transferred from her bloodstream into that milk. If her body cannot absorb and mobilise calcium quickly enough to meet demand, her blood calcium can fall dangerously low.
This causes the nerves and muscles to become increasingly excitable, producing the characteristic restlessness, stiffness, twitching, tremors and seizures associated with eclampsia.
Despite the common name “milk fever”, eclampsia is caused by low blood calcium rather than an infection.
When does eclampsia occur?
Eclampsia most commonly develops around two to three weeks after the puppies are born, when milk production is often near its peak.[1]
However, it can occur at any stage of lactation and occasionally during labour. Do not assume your dog is safe because she has passed a particular post-whelp day.
Small dogs feeding a relatively large litter are affected most often, but eclampsia can occur in a dog of any breed, size or litter size.
What are the early signs of eclampsia in dogs?
Eclampsia does not always begin with a seizure. Its earliest signs may be mistaken for anxiety, heat, tiredness or ordinary post-whelp behaviour.
Watch for:
- Restlessness, pacing or repeatedly changing position
- Persistent or increasingly heavy panting
- Being unable to settle with the puppies
- Unusual anxiety, clinginess, irritability or aggression
- Stiff, awkward or uncoordinated movement
- Fine muscle tremors or twitching around the face or limbs
- Weakness or wobbliness
- Confusion or disorientation
- Drooling or rubbing at the face
- Reluctance to allow the puppies to feed
You know your own dog. A sudden and unexplained change from her normal behaviour should be taken seriously, particularly when several signs appear together.
What are the advanced signs of eclampsia?
As her calcium levels continue to fall, you may see:
- Pronounced trembling
- Repeated muscle spasms
- Rigid limbs
- Difficulty standing
- Rapid breathing or a fast heart rate
- A high body temperature
- Collapse
- Convulsions or seizures
- Loss of consciousness
You absolutely do not want to wait until you see these advanced symptoms. At this stage, it is a serious emergency. Contact a vet when you first suspect something is wrong.
When is panting after whelping normal?
Some panting can be normal during and after whelping. A new mum may pant because she is warm, tired, anxious, uncomfortable or experiencing uterine contractions after giving birth.
Panting is more concerning when it:
- Is persistent or becoming more intense
- Continues while she should be resting comfortably
- Appears alongside pacing or an inability to settle
- Is accompanied by stiffness, twitching or trembling
- Occurs alongside weakness, confusion or unusual behaviour
- Starts suddenly after she had previously been settled
Panting alone does not confirm eclampsia. However, persistent panting combined with behavioural or physical changes warrants urgent veterinary advice.
What should you do if you suspect eclampsia?
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Contact your vet immediately
Tell the veterinary practice that your dog is nursing puppies and that you are concerned about possible eclampsia or low blood calcium. Do not wait to see whether the symptoms improve by themselves.
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Prevent the puppies from feeding
Stop the puppies from suckling while you contact the vet and arrange treatment. Feeding increases milk production and calcium demand. Keep the puppies together in a secure, appropriately warm area. Your vet will advise when nursing can resume and whether temporary supplementary feeding is needed.
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Keep your dog safe and quiet
Move her to a calm, secure area away from stairs, furniture edges and anything she could strike if she trembles or has a seizure. Do not restrain her forcefully during a seizure and never place your hands or an object inside her mouth.
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Do not force food, water or calcium into her mouth
A trembling, rigid, disorientated or convulsing dog may not be able to swallow safely. Oral calcium supplements intended for routine nutritional support do not replace emergency treatment. Do not delay the journey to the vet while attempting to treat her at home.
Where possible, photograph everything you have been feeding her, including the labels.
Be ready to tell your vet:
- How many puppies she is feeding
- How old the puppies are
- What she has been eating
- Which supplements she has received
- When her behaviour first changed
How is eclampsia diagnosed and treated?
A vet will assess your dog’s symptoms and will usually use blood tests to measure calcium and check for other abnormalities.
Acute eclampsia commonly requires calcium to be given directly into a vein. This must be administered slowly because giving intravenous calcium too quickly can disrupt the heart rhythm.[1]
Depending on her condition, your dog may also require treatment for seizures, overheating, dehydration or low blood glucose.
Dogs can improve quickly after appropriate treatment, but eclampsia can return during the same lactation.
The puppies may need temporary separation, supplementary feeding or earlier weaning to reduce the demand on their mother. Follow the treating vet’s instructions even if your dog appears much better.
Which dogs are most at risk?
- Toy and small breeds
- Dogs feeding a large litter relative to their size
- Dogs producing a high volume of milk
- Mothers with poor appetite or inadequate food intake
- Dogs eating an unbalanced diet
- Dogs that have experienced eclampsia before
- Dogs given inappropriate calcium supplementation during pregnancy
These are risk factors, not rules. Any nursing dog can develop eclampsia.
Can eclampsia be prevented?
Although no diet or supplement can guarantee that your dog will not experience eclampsia, there are proactive steps you can take to reduce avoidable risk.
- Feed a complete and appropriate diet
- Ensure she eats enough as milk demand increases
- Monitor her appetite, behaviour, movement and body condition
- Discuss future pregnancies with your vet if she has previously experienced eclampsia
- Do not give additional calcium during pregnancy unless specifically advised by your vet
- Use any post-whelp calcium plan according to her complete diet and individual needs
Does giving calcium prevent eclampsia?
Not all calcium products are the same, and giving extra calcium does not automatically prevent eclampsia.
Calcium supplementation during pregnancy can interfere with the body’s natural calcium-regulating system and may increase susceptibility after whelping. Routine additional calcium during pregnancy is therefore not recommended unless your vet has identified a specific need.[1]
During lactation, whether additional calcium is appropriate depends on her complete diet, food intake, litter demand, previous history and veterinary or nutritional guidance. Calcium cannot guarantee prevention, and an oral supplement must never replace emergency veterinary treatment.
The dose, duration and design of any supplement all matter. Cutting corners with any one of these can leave your dog’s actual needs unmet.
The most important thing to take away
Eclampsia may begin with subtle changes such as panting, pacing, anxiety or stiffness before progressing to tremors and seizures.
If your girl suddenly cannot seem to settle or begins behaving unusually, stop the puppies from feeding and seek urgent veterinary advice.
Early recognition and treatment can make a life-saving difference.
Would you like help preparing your girl’s post-whelp plan?
If your dog is currently displaying possible signs of eclampsia, stop the puppies from feeding and contact your vet immediately.
If you are preparing for puppies and want help reviewing your girl’s diet, post-whelp feeding and calcium supplementation, you can book a one-to-one coaching call with me. We can look at her breed, weight, current food, previous history and expected litter demands to create a more tailored plan.
Book a Breeding Nutrition Coaching CallLooking for ongoing support throughout pregnancy, whelping and puppy rearing? Explore the Whelping World Breeding Support Club.
Veterinary and scientific sources
This article provides educational information and does not seek to replace veterinary examination, diagnosis or treatment. Suspected eclampsia requires immediate veterinary attention.