Synonym: Eclampsia, Puerperal 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
- Hypocalcemia
Predisposing factors
- Atony of smooth muscle and skeletal muscle
- Improper prenatal nutrition
- Inappropriate 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
- Hyperthermia
- Stiff tilted gait due to muscular tetany
Diagnosis
- History of late pregnancy and early lactation
- Clinical signs are always observed in nourishing bitches
- Characteristic 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