Could my new mom dog's fever be eclampsia after whelping?

A fever over 102.5 often means infection or significant inflammation. A fever in a dog that recently had puppies could be caused by retained placenta, infection in the uterus, or mastitis. I would recommend that Blacky be examined by a vet to see what could be the cause of the fever and to start appropriate medications, if needed.

This does not sound like eclampsia. That typically presents as an emergency with symptoms of collapse, severe trembling and weakness. This sounds like more of a slow process and there can be many causes ranging from an infection in her uterus, mammary glands, a gastrointestinal issue, or other generalized infection. I would recommend an exam by her veterinarian to try to pinpoint which system is affected and what is going on.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! During nursing, Jewels' body is using up a lot of calcium storage to help create milk for the nursing puppies. Consequently, this usage of calcium in her body can cause her levels to drop rapidly and cause her to go into a hypocalcemic state known as eclampsia. This can rapidly progress if not addressed right away to full on convulsions. I would recommend taking her to the veterinarian and having her calcium levels tested to see if she is in need of supplementation or not. There may be a different cause but with her feeding the puppies, this is high up on my list. She could also be cold or anxious. Regardless of the proposed cause, it would be best to have a veterinarian take a look at her sooner rather than later. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello, and thank you for using Pet Coach. I am sorry to hear about Charlene, and I too am very worried. From her history, I would recommend that Charlene get checked out by a vet immediately. Since she is not yet nursing, it is unlikely that she is low in blood calcium (what causes milk fever), but it is still possible. There could be other causes for her odd behavior, including infection or other electrolyte abnormalities. After being examined by the vet, they will likely recommend bloodwork to see what is going on internally. You should also discuss with the vet if Charlene is on the appropriate dog food and nutritional supplements for her stage of pregnancy knowing her history of hypocalcemia. Dogs with a history of milk fever are prone to having it with each litter and you will need to be very vigilant once the puppies are born.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding ICE. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. I worry that nursing the pups has placed a huge toll on her body. If this is the case, eclampsia or low blood calcium can result. This can be very serious and requires prompt care. Her veterinarian will be able to diagnose this with a blood sample. I hope this information helps!

This could be due to fever or pain and I recommend a recheck by your vet as soon as possible. Low calcium levels can cause agitation and tremors but would be unlikely so soon after birth especially when you have started calcium already

My main recommendation is to check her temperature to make sure she does not have a fever (over 102.5). While it is normal for the temperature to rise for the first 24 hours after whelping, by now it should return to normal. If she does have a fever or the vaginal discharge has a foul smell, is increasing in volume, or she seems to be feeling any worse, then take her to the veterinarian. If you have a house call veterinarian in your area, that would be even better. Infection of the uterus, or metritis, is possible and should be taken seriously. At two days post-whelping, a reddish brown discharge is normal. If she has no fever and seems to be feeling better, then just make sure she has plenty to eat and lots of fresh water. Here is a link to a good article on nutrition. http://www.akc.org/content/dog-breeding/articles/the-care-and-feeding-of-the-breeding-bitch-part-two/ Thanks for using PetCoach.