Dog eclampsia / milk fever (nursing mother)
Eclampsia, or milk fever, is a dangerous drop in blood calcium that affects nursing female dogs, usually in the first few weeks after giving birth and most often in small breeds with large litters. It is a go-now emergency. Early signs include restlessness, panting, and stiffness, progressing to tremors, muscle spasms, a high temperature, and seizures. If your nursing dog shows these signs, call a veterinarian immediately and stop the puppies feeding from her for now. Do not give calcium or other supplements by mouth without veterinary direction — treatment needs to be carefully managed.
Go to a vet now if
- A nursing mother who is restless, panting, stiff, or trembling
- Muscle tremors or spasms, wobbliness, or seizures
- A high temperature, or collapse
- Signs in the first weeks after birth, especially a small dog with a large litter
Call a vet today if
- Mild restlessness in a nursing mother with no tremors (watch very closely and call your vet)
What to tell the vet
- How long ago she gave birth and litter size
- The signs and how fast they are progressing
- Her temperature if you can take it safely
- Her breed and weight
- Whether puppies are still feeding from her
- Conditions and medications
What not to do
- Do not give calcium or supplements by mouth without veterinary direction
- Do not let the puppies keep nursing until your vet advises
- Do not wait — eclampsia can progress to seizures quickly
What your vet may check
Your vet will check blood calcium and provide carefully controlled calcium and supportive treatment, then advise on managing nursing and feeding the puppies to prevent it recurring.
Recovery support after veterinary assessment
Your vet will guide how to feed the puppies (often partly by supplementary feeding) and support the mother's nutrition. Any supportive feeding for the mother is used on veterinary advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is milk fever (eclampsia) in dogs?
It is a dangerous drop in blood calcium in nursing female dogs, usually in the first weeks after birth. It causes tremors and seizures and is a go-now emergency.
Which dogs are most at risk of eclampsia?
Small-breed mothers with large litters in the early weeks of nursing are at highest risk, because of the heavy calcium demand of producing milk.
Can I give my dog calcium for milk fever?
Not by mouth without veterinary direction — calcium treatment must be carefully managed. Call your vet immediately and stop the puppies nursing for now.
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Sources & standards
Emergency guidance follows AVMA, Merck Veterinary Manual, ASPCA Animal Poison Control, and small-animal emergency-medicine standards, reviewed by our veterinary advisory board.