Postpartum convulsion in dogs

Postpartum seizures are also known as "postpartum eclampsia", "postpartum epilepsy" or "lactation convulsions". This disease is a serious metabolic disease characterized by hypocalcemia and abnormal motor nerve excitation leading to muscle ankylosing contraction. Although the disease can occur before delivery, during delivery or within 6 weeks after delivery, it occurs most frequently during 2-4 weeks postpartum. The disease is more common in small bitches with large litter size and high lactation. The sharp decrease of postpartum serum calcium concentration is the direct cause of the disease, and feeding food with low calcium content and nutritional imbalance is the inducement.

[diagnosis]

(1) the sick female dog stumbles, salivates, groans, and strides forcefully; then the whole body muscle tremors, neck and legs straighten, body stiffness; lying on the ground, shortness of breath, pulse acceleration, elevated body temperature (more than 40 ℃), visual mucosal congestion, eyeball rolling upward, mouth often accompanied by white foam, if not timely treatment, can be asphyxiated to death after 1 or 2 days.

(2) the serum calcium concentration decreased to 8mg/100ml, and in severe cases, only 6~7mg100/ml or lower (normal bitches blood calcium concentration pill 9~12mg/100ml).

[prevention]

(1) D~30ml of 10% calcium gluconate was given by intravenous drip slowly. It is usually repeated once after 24 hours, and can be repeated for 2 or 3 times in severe cases.

(2) for animals with poor effect or persistent spasm with calcium gluconate alone, pentobarbital sodium 10~20mg/kg or thiopental sodium 15mg / kg can be injected intravenously, or prednisolone 0.5mg/kg can be taken orally twice a day.

(3) weaning the puppies immediately (or as early as possible) for artificial lactation. Those who have difficulties in weaning immediately should also strictly control the milk intake of their puppies and reduce them day by day until they are weaned.

(4) in the later stage of pregnancy, increasing the content of calcium in diet during lactation, supplying diets containing appropriate amount of calcium, vitamin D, minerals and energy balance, increasing outdoor exercise and more sun exposure can effectively prevent the occurrence of the disease. Cured dogs should pay more attention to prevention before and after the next delivery.