Eclampsia in Dogs

Eclampsia is a condition in which calcium levels in the blood drop rapidly, typically in the weeks following birth when a dog is nursing puppies. The body's demand for calcium can outpace what is available in circulation, and this imbalance affects how nerves and muscles function. Owners often notice restlessness, panting, or muscle tremors that appear suddenly in a nursing dog. Some dogs become unsteady or disoriented. The signs can progress quickly, and the presentation tends to be more striking in smaller dogs or those nursing large litters, though it can occur in any lactating dog. This page explores what the early signals of eclampsia can look like, the mechanism by which calcium depletion affects the body, how the condition is investigated, and the range of approaches used to address it.