My nursing dog is weak with diarrhea. Does she need calcium?

Yes, i would continue with calcium supplementation (low blood levels can result in seizures in nursing mothers). Given her small size, i would recommend getting a dog version, in smaller, more accurate dosage such as canovel tablets or a calcium powder available from your vets office or petstore

Hello, sorry to hear about Kira. I would be concerned with Calcium being too low due to her nursing. Calcium is one of those minerals that gets consumed in excess during milk production. Low levels of Calcium can be particularly dangerous to the hear and skeletal muscle. I would recommend taking her to your veterinarian to have her evaluation for eclampsia. Hope this helps.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Cookienear! Cookie needs to go to a vet immediately and be evaluated for hypocalcemia, which is low calcium. This is a serious condition after giving birth in some dogs. Once the diagnosis is conformed the Vet will give Cookie an injection to raise her calcium and prescribe medications. I hope this helps and i wish Cookiebear the best!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Diarrhea can be observed with conditions such as colitis, gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, intestinal parasites, among many other possibilities. This could of course be due to the calcium supplement. Unless giving this has been directed by a veterinarian, you can start by discontinuing this calcium supplement to see if that is the cause of the diarrhea. She may not need to be on any supplements. Keep in mind that is she is being fed a complete diet, she should not require supplementation. I recommend that you have Lucy evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They may choose to check for parasites and to start medications for diarrhea depending on the results. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Any medication you give a lactating dog will be passed through the milk to the puppy. I do not suggest any human medications and if her diarrhea is severe you should have her examined by your Vet and a fecal test ran to rule out intestinal parasites. It easily could be the food you are feeding as she should be eating a puppy food. I would try a bland diet of boiled chicken and hamburger with rice for a few says. A probiotic should be fine, I like Purina Fortiflora. I hope this helps!

She needs to continue to eat puppy food which is high in calories and will help keep her from becoming hypocalcemic. She should not need supplemental calcium unless the vet has currently diagnosed her with hypocalcemia. She may be shaking because she is in discomfort from her recent labor. Keep an eye on her for the next 24 hrs and if the shaking continues you may want to give the calcium you got from your vet the last time she had an episode just to hold her over until she can be seen to make sure low calcium is truly the issue here. A simple blood test should be able to sort things out. I hope everything works out well for your pet Snow. Best wishes and take care.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I recommend feeding a pregnant dog puppy food. MOST dogs do not need a calcium supplement. Little breed dogs are at a higher risk of low calcium. Low calcium IF it will be a problem, occurs after birth during the first few days with large litters nursing or in small breed dogs. I wouldn't start a calcium supplement until all the puppies are born. I hope this helps! Good luck!