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Eclampsia

Sonam Bhatt

Assistant Professor

Veterinary Medicine

BVC, Patna

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Puerperal hypocalcemia

Periparturient hypocalcemia

Puerperal tetany

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  • Acute, life-threatening condition that usually occurs 2-4 weeks after whelping

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  • Small bitches with large litters are most often affected

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PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

  • Involved in release of acetylcholine during neuromuscular transmission
  • muscle contraction & stabilizes nerve cell membrane by decreasing permeability to Na
  • During hypocalcaemia nervous system becomes more excitable due increases neuronal permeability
  • Then nerve fibres discharges spontaneously initiating impulses to skeletal muscles where they elicit tetanic contractions

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CLINICAL SIGNS

  • Panting and restlessness
  • Tremors, twitching, tetany, muscle spasms, & gait changes (stiffness and ataxia) result from increased neuromuscular excitability
  • Hyperthermia may occur in severe cases

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DIAGNOSIS

  • History
  • Clinical signs
  • Estimation of serum calcium level:- Serum calcium concentration <7 mg/dL

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TREATMENT

  • Slow IV administration of 10% calcium gluconate @ 0.5-1.5 mL/kg slow IV
  • This usually results in rapid clinical improvement within 15 min
  • During administration of calcium, heart rate should be carefully monitored for bradycardia or arrhythmia by auscultation

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