Emergency — phone the vet now
Within minutes
Eclampsia in nursing female dogs
Restlessness, panting, tremors, then seizures in a recently whelped or nursing bitch is eclampsia (low blood calcium) — emergency vet now.
Recognise the signs
- Restlessness, panting, drooling early on
- Stiff gait, tremors
- Hypersensitivity to noise/touch
- Tetany — full-body muscle stiffness
- Fever, seizures, collapse if untreated
First aid steps
- Remove the puppies — stop nursing immediately.
- Phone the emergency vet.
- Cool the bitch with damp towels if she is hot.
- Drive to the vet without delay.
Do NOT
- Do not give oral calcium tablets without vet direction.
- Do not let the puppies continue nursing.
- Do not delay — seizures can be fatal.
While transporting to the vet
- Phone ahead — IV calcium will be prepared.
- Keep cool, calm, supported.
When to phone the vet immediately
- Any of the recognise_signs in a nursing bitch
- Seizures, collapse
Common causes
- Calcium drop from heavy milk production
- Most common in small breeds with large litters in the first 4 weeks of nursing
- Sometimes in late pregnancy
What the vet will need to know
- Whelping date and litter size
- Diet during pregnancy and nursing
- Calcium supplements given
Aftercare
- IV calcium under monitoring — dramatic improvement usually.
- Switch puppies to formula or hand-feeding for 24–48 hours.
- Oral calcium and dietary calcium increase.
- Often advised to wean early.
Prevention
- High-quality balanced commercial diet during pregnancy and nursing — do NOT supplement calcium during pregnancy (suppresses parathyroid).
- Vet-guided supplementation only after whelping if needed.
- Wean appropriately.
Breed-specific notes
- Small breeds with large litters: Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Pomeranian most at risk.
Frequently asked questions
Why does pre-whelping calcium supplementation cause this?
Calcium supplements during pregnancy suppress the parathyroid hormone system, which then can't respond to demand once nursing starts.
Can the puppies still nurse afterwards?
Often yes after stabilisation, with reduced nursing time and formula supplementation. Some vets advise weaning early.
Will it happen with the next litter?
Risk is higher in repeat pregnancies. Many breeders avoid breeding affected bitches again.