Canine Hypocalcemia (Low Calcium)

Calcium is a nutritional requirement for dogs equally as important as for humans. Lactating (nursing) female dogs (bitches) require a high calcium nutritional diet (such as "performance' type of dog food), supporting the health of their pups, consume large quantity of milk. For example: "With an average litter of pups, a Beagle bitch will need to produce about one quart of milk per day." 1 Preferably female dog nutritional diet should be a ratio of calcium to phosphorous of 1.2 to one. 6 When a female dog has an insufficient (deficiency) amount of calcium necessary to provide her nursing pups, referred to as "pre-tetanic eclampsia" (hypocalcemia 2) or low calcium levels. 3 Also, other names associated to this condition include pospartum hypocalcemia, periparturient hypocalcemia ("Milk Fever" 9), and puerperal tetany. 1 Hypocalcemia is less common for cats. 4 When this condition occurs, symptoms become apparent within seven to twenty-four days after giving birth but can develop before birth. Hypocalcemia occurs more frequently among small breed females and bitches of first litter. Hypocalcemia can threaten the health of puppies and untreated or delayed intervention can lead to the death of the mother. 2

Cause of hypocalcemia for female dogs include unbalanced nutritional diet by an excessive amount of meat, wrongly fully assuming (by dog owners) extra protein is beneficial. "Low Blood Levels of Albumen - Dietary protein deficiency or excessive loss from the body of albumen, which happens in some kidney diseases, will cause low levels of calcium." Hypocalcemia may be caused by a rare condition or disease of the Parathyroid Glands (Parathyroid Glands located behind the thyroid gland regulate calcium level within a very narrow range, so that nervous and muscular systems function healthy 7) 6 Common heavy calcium supplementation during pregnancy increase the risk of hypocalcemia and generally not recommended. "If a dog receives increased amounts of calcium during pregnancy, her body's production of parathyroid hormone greatly decreases." When the bitch needs large quantity of calcium to feed her puppies, the system is not working efficiently to start removing it from the bone."Because of the lack of parathyroid hormone, the blood calcium level suddenly drops, and produces the signs of eclampsia." 8

"When calcium is lost in the milk faster than it absorbed or than it can be mobilized from the skeletal system" clinical symptoms (signs) of hypocalcemia observed either before or after giving birth 1: Pacing, high temperature (As high as 106 degrees could cause irreversible brain damage. Normal dog's body temperature: 101 - 102 degrees. 6) , restless or whining attitude, seizures (low blood sugar 6), vomiting, unsteadiness or rigid muscles cause inability to stand or walk, and ignoring the puppies. During a veterinarian examination eclampsia is confirmed by low calcium level blood test. Also, screen for abnormal levels of magnesium or sugar deficiencies. Puppies of the mother (hypocalcemia) dog are hand nursed with milk replacement. 2 Diagnosed hypocalcemia female dog is intravenously treated with calcium ("...administering 10% calcium gluconate injections intravenously, at .25-75 ml per pound body weight per hour." 5) and may require additionally sodium bicarbonate and glucose. 1 When calcium is intravenously administered must be given slowly, otherwise rapid infusion may cause heart abnormalities: Arrhythmias (Irregular electrical impulses cause abnormal heart rhythms. 11) and slowing of the heart rate. Within one to three weeks after treatment will take to reverse the effects of hypocalcemia. 10 "Mild sedation may be beneficial to assist in relaxing the muscles." Reduce body temperature by emersing the dog in a cool bath. "Sometimes cortisone is very helpful in preventing Canine Eclampsia - ask your veterinarian about having some on hand prior to the next whelping." 6 Following initial treatment calcium supplements are given during the remaining time of lactation. Also, a well balanced diet is recommended besides close monitoring. 1 Hypocalcemia female dogs frequently will have recurrence in later pregnancies, and predominately will occur before birth of the puppies. 9

Only when eclampsia has previously occurred, giving calcium supplement (500 mg of calcium carbonate per 5 kg of body weight per day) during the first week through the fourth or fifth week of lactation should be given if needed. 10

References:

1.) Eclampsia - http://www.gopetsamerica.com/dog-health/eclampsia.aspx

2.) Canine Eclampsia (Low Calcium) - http://www.animalhealthcare.ca/contents/content.asp?id=415&cat=dogs

3.) Aggression toward Newborn Puppies - http://www.chesapeakes.net/health/eclampsia.html

4.) Eclampsia in Dogs - http://www.petplace.com/dogs/eclampsia-in-dogs/page1.aspx

5.) Canine Eclampsia, or Milk Fever in Dogs - http://www.startfinish.biz/pets/Canine-Eclampsia-or-Milk-Fever-In-Dogs_31507/

6.) ECLAMPSIA (Puerperal Tetany) IN THE DOG - http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/ec.html

7.) Parathyroid gland - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parathyroid_gland

8.) Eclampsia (Milk Fever or Puerperal Tetany) - http://www.gsdhelp.info/repro/eclampsia.html

9.) HYPOCALCEMIA - http://www.petsvetsandyou.com/pcl/articles/c100010/q10000085.htm

10.) ECLAMSIA - http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/breeding/eclampsia.htm

11.) What Are Arrhythmias? - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=560