You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Eclampsia ( also known as "milk fever") occurs in female animals that are producing milk

This condition occurs when blood calcium concentrations fall too low (called hypocalcaemia) because of calcium loss into milk. The milk may be being produced due to true pregnancy or a "false" pregnancy.  The disorder is seen most often in lactating females feeding their young - eg  dogs (toy breeds in particular), cats, pigs, goats, horses and cattle. Signs include :

• Collapse
• Fits - like epilepsy
• Shaking or muscle tremors
• A very high body temperature
• Untreated cases can die

The precise cause of eclampsia is not always known, but excess calcium (in the ration or by supplementation) during pregnancy has been implicated as a cause.

Treatment involves the slow intravenous administration of calcium to return blood levels to normal. 

As a general rule a complete, balanced ration containing sufficient calcium should be fed, and excess supplementation with calcium should be avoided during pregnancy. Diets formulated for growing puppies should be avoided if they have high calcium content - your vet will advise you. 

Updated October 2013