Epilepsy or Low Calcium
 

I have a 2 year old Yorkie that is ready to deliver her 2nd litter. With her first litter, she had a seizure the week before whelping. When tested it was determined that it was the result of a low calcium level and was treated with Calsorb. To be safe she had a C section. She would not nurse her puppies and they had to be raised by another female who was lactating. She never had a seizure before then and never had one since UNTIL a week after I bred her the second time. This time I took her to my local vet who said all of the bloodwork was fine, implication being its epilepsy. Needless to say, I would not have bred her if I thought this was the case. Later in the pregnancy I took her to a reproductive specialist who claims her Calcium is low again and is being treated with Calsorb as I write this. This vet claims that the other vet did not run the kind of calcium test needed to be sure the problem was not calcium related. Therefore, assuming it is epilepsy and not a calcium problem is premature. I plan to have another c section next week. Has anybody out there experienced any thing like this? Obviously I will have her spayed if we cannot determine for sure what the problem is. Sally

Hello & Welcome to YT! I have had some experience with eclampsia (low calcium levels) with my girl Gellica. Two weeks after she gave birth, we almost lost her. She didin't really have what you would call a seizure though. Her symptoms were vomitting, then heavy panting, and finally her legs gave way under her. It was like she turned into a dish rag, and got so weak she couldn't stand up. Luckily, we were minutes away form the ER vet, or she would not have made it. We had to bottle feed the puppies after this. There was never any seizure though such as shaking, etc.

Low Calcium
 

Thank you for your quick response. Neither vet has mentioned the word ecampsia. Since I did not force her to nurse last time, I do not know whether she could have done it without problems or not. She has not had the other symptons associated with eclampsia. Right now I'm keeping her quiet and if I have to go out I separate her from the other dogs. The seizures seem to be hormonal. The vet gave me valium to insert rectally if she does have a seizure. Sally

eclampsia
 

When she had this the first time the vet should have told you not to breed her again. You are probably going to have to raise the litter yourself. You have a long road ahead of you.

Seizures/Pregnant Yorkie
 

Yes, you are correct on both counts. However, I need to deal with my immediate situation. I am planning on a C section and perhaps I shouldn't even try to introduce the mother to nursing. She's my number one priority. I do not mind feeding the babies myself, anything to lessen the stress on Lulu.

I have dealt with eclampsia before but not preeclampsia. I am just curious why the vet would find it necessary to do a c-section without allowing the female to deliver naturally? How big is this female? Is she a picky eater?

Pre eclampsia
 

I think the vet feels and so do I, that if she were to have a seizure during the whelping process it would endanger everyone involved. I live in the country, and if you have an emergency at night you have big problems as time is such a factor. Lulu is a good 7 lb. dog and is eatting well. In addition to the 1/2 ml of Calsorb daily, I have been giving her extra moistened food and a tad of cottage cheese which she is consumes. Today is the first day I noticed a slow down in her appetite (tomorrow is 57 days since first breeding). I am watching her like a hawk and trying to keep her calm.

I pray that she does okay. I would recommend she be spayed after this c-section since it will be her second one.

Lulu
 

Thank you, I do plan on having her spayed.

I am glad you are getting her spayed. I'm surprised your vet didn't suggest it after her first litter. Epilepsy is genetic and if it turns out that is what she has, two litters of puppies are at risk for epilepsy later on. :(

Like I said, they do not know if she is epileptic or not. In her lifetime she has only had three mild episodes and they only occurred when her hormones were going through female issues. However, that in itself is reason enough to have her spayed, which I already said I will do. My pups are sold with a spay/neuter contract. I disagree in that there is no firm evidence that what she has is congenital and I have been to two vets, one of which is a reproductive specialist. I really am seeking helpful information on this forum. I do not need judgement for a situation that could have happened to any breeder, based on the information that was available to me at the time. So perhaps I made a mistake in signing on. Respectfully, Sally

seizures
 

i got a staffordshire bull terrier and her mother had a seizure after having the pups when she went to vets they said it wasnt epilepsy and she had a calcium difisancie and was given stuff and medication she still mothered the pups but the pup i got had seizures and i took her to the vets and they tested her for epilepsy and she didnt have it and she still has seizures now and again but the vet doesnt know why:animal36

The one thing I have learned is that an Epilepsy diagnosis is made by process of elimination. Many diseases have seizures as a sympton ie: liver shunt, kidney etc. and unless your dog has been tested for each of those illnesses, and found to be okay, no one knows for sure whether it is epilepsy or not. However, there is a point, without all of the testing, where common sense kicks in and you you are pretty sure of what you are dealing with even if it mild and infrequent. That is where I am right now.

There is no test for epilepsy. If they did thorough testing and found nothing causing her seizures, she most likely has idiopathic epilepsy.