Postpartum convulsions in dogs

Postpartum convulsions is a metabolic disease characterized by hypocalcemia. It manifests as muscle tonic spasm and disturbance of consciousness. This disease can occur before delivery, during delivery, and after delivery, but it is most common in the 2 to 4th cycle after delivery, and is more common in female dogs with high lactation.

[Cause of the disease]

Calcium deficiency is the main cause of the disease. The formation and development of fetal bones require the mother to absorb a large amount of calcium, and part of the calcium is excreted with milk after delivery. If the female dog cannot replenish calcium in time, the body will be deficient in calcium. Calcium deficiency will lead to increased nerve and muscle excitability, eventually leading to muscle contraction.

[Diagnostic Key Points]

Usually the onset is sudden, without warning, and symptoms of mental excitement appear at the beginning of the disease. The affected dog appears restless, timid, and occasionally makes whining sounds. He walks awkwardly and has shortness of breath. Symptoms of convulsions soon appeared, with intermittent or tonic muscle spasms, stiff limbs, unsteady gait, and even lying on the ground. The body temperature increased (above 40 degrees Celsius), difficulty breathing, accelerated pulse, foaming at the mouth, and visible mucous membranes. Blue-purple color. The time from the onset of symptoms to the onset of convulsions can range from about 15 minutes to about 12 hours. It can take more than 1 to 2 days to die of suffocation if no timely treatment is provided. Rapid diagnosis is very important. Combined with clinical symptoms, the blood calcium content is detected. If the blood calcium is lower than 0.67mmol/L (6 mg/100ml), the diagnosis can be confirmed.

[Preventive and treatment measures]

Inject 5 to 20 ml of 10% calcium gluconate intravenously (must be injected slowly), and at the same time, intravenously inject sodium pentobarbital (dose 2 ~4 mg/kg body weight) or chlorpromazine hydrochloride (dose 1.1 ~ 6.6 mg/kg body weight? times, intramuscular injection) to control spasms. Female dogs should take calcium tablets orally or add calcium to their food.

Notes

To prevent postpartum ankylosis, adequate calcium, vitamin D and inorganic salts should be provided in food before and after delivery. During lactation, attention should be paid to the balance and adjustment of diet.