Eclampsia in Bitches The condition is also known as Lactation tetany, Puerperal tetany, Post-parturient tetany, Hypocalcaemia, Milk fever in bitches Eclampsia is mostly predominant in bitch, occurring either in the later part of pregnancy
"Eclampsia in Bitches The condition is also known" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to
download and print the materials on this website for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it
on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright
notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this
agreement.
Presentation Transcript
01
Eclampsia in Bitches<br>
02
The condition is also known as Lactation tetany, Puerperal tetany, Post-parturient tetany, Hypocalcaemia, Milk fever in bitches
Eclampsia is mostly predominant in bitch, occurring either in the later part of pregnancy or during lactation
It is also common in human ladies during pregnancy or after delivery. The names and definition of this condition are still somewhat controversial
The name “eclampsia” is probably incorrect and is borrowed from human medicine because of the somewhat similar symptoms true to eclampsia of pregnancy in woman
The disease is characterized by restlessness, excitement, panting, sometime continuous crying of the animal due to pain, nervousness etc.
The disease is restricted to small breeds of dogs like Spitz, whereas large breeds of dogs (e.g. GSD) are generally not susceptible<br>
03
Etiology: The condition occurs mostly within 2 to 10 days after whelping but sometimes in bitches suckling a large litter, after 30 days or more
More rarely it occurs during late pregnancy or at the time of whelping
It is a very obscure disease and the actual aetiology is not yet established. But some suggestions are given about the aetiology of the disease:
If the disease occurs within 2 weeks after parturition, basically the problem is due to hypoglycaemia
If the disease occurs later in the lactation period, the problem is mostly due to hypocalcaemia
If the diseased bitch is given replacement therapy with calcium and glucose, she responds to treatment
It indicates that the disease is accompanied with hypocalcaemia and hypoglycaemia
But the factors causing hypocalcaemia and hypoglycaemia are unknown. Actual pathogenesis of the condition is not yet known<br>
04
Clinical Findings: The condition is accompanied with:
There must be a history of the condition having occurred in late pregnancy or early lactation
The bitch becomes restless and anorectic
The respiratory rate is increased and the tongue hangs out (panting)
Stiffness of the joints causing pain and stilted gait
Bitch becomes staggery, goes down and suffers from tonoclonic convulsion (violent spasmodic contractions of muscle groups all over the body)
In some cases the animal may fall forward, the head is thrown back, the legs are galloping, the animal is frantically excited and cries out
Opisthotonus arch develops like in strychnine poisoning but the consciousness of the animal is retained<br>
05
There is rise in temperature which may go about 103oF and sometimes upto 105o–108oF
This is metabolic temperature and occurs due to increased energy production in the muscles during violent muscular spasm
There may be heat- prostration (heatstroke, sunstroke, hyperthermia) due to severe increase in temperature
In late pregnant and post-parturient animal, the vulva and the mammary glands, are swollen or distended, respectively<br>
06
Diagnosis: The diagnosis of the condition can be made by:
The signs are always observed in nursing bitch or those who are in the later part of pregnancy
So, there must be history of late pregnancy, whelping or early lactation
Characteristic clinical signs like opisthotonus arch, tonoclonic convulsion, high rise in temperature even upto 108oF, stilted gait etc<br>
07
While making a diagnosis, eclampsia should be differentiated from:
Tetanus: The spasm of the muscles or convulsion observed in eclampsia may be confused with tetanus:
In eclampsia tono-clonic convulsions occur i.e. contraction and relaxation of the skeletal muscles occur alternately. But in tetanus, there is tonic convulsion i.e. only contractions of skeletal muscles occur
Tetanus is characterised by prolapse of the third eyelid, lock jaw or stiffness of the jaw due to increased spasm of the muscles of the jaw, whereas in eclampsia there is no such clinical findings
Calcium therapy to the animal gives response in case of eclampsia while in tetanus, the animal does not respond to calcium therapy<br>
08
Strychnine poisoning: The opisthotonus arch observed in eclampsia may be confused with strychnine poisoning
There must be history of strychnine consumption from nux vomica seed in case of poisoning
No history of pregnancy or parturition is noticed in case of strychnine poisoning
Cyanosis of the mucous membrane is observed in case of strychnine poisoning
The animal suffering from the poisoning does not respond to replacement therapy by calcium<br>
09
Rabies:
(a) There must be history of dog bite
The animal shows ascending type of paralysis and profuse salivation<br>
10
Treatment: Once the condition is diagnosed, the following therapeutic measures should be undertaken:
(i) Remove the suckling puppies from bitch at least for 24 hours to reduce the drainage of calcium in milk and the suckling pups should be returned only when the bitch is on full, continuous dosage of calcium and vitamin D
(ii) Infuse or supplement calcium in the form of Ca-gluconate or Ca-borogluconate. Ca-borogluconate (25% solution) is the drug of choice
It should be administered @ 1 ml/kg body wt. in single dose
50% of the required dose is given intravenously and the rest by either i/m or s/c route
If quantity of the drug is more, the s/c route is preferred<br>
11
(iii) Ca-gluconate powder or any oral preparation of calcium and glucose can be fed orally after the injection of calcium borogluconateSometimes about 10 to 15 ml of 40% glucose should be injected. A multiple vitamin supplement may also be helpful
(iv) If there is too much excitement, sodium phenobarbitone may be slowly administered by i/v route until the dog is sedated
(v) Cortisone or hydrocortisone have a good effect in addition to the usual therapy. Prednisolone is preferred these days by oral route @ 2.5 mg tab b.i.d. for 3 days for adult bitch, then 1.25 mg b.i.d. for 5 days, and then 1.0 mg b.i.d. for a week
(vi) Care should be taken so that the bitch does not suffer from hypocalcaemia or hypoglycaemia during pregnancy or lactation period<br>
