Warning to breeders

[chattiesmom]

Originally Posted by Sugar's Mom

Thanks everyone. We are home from the vet. he gave me another calcuim shot to bring home and a bottle of PetCal tabs. She was scared at the vet and we thought she would be beter athome. Still cannot stand on her legs but other sympthoms are gone. He said the babies seemed fine and there should be no reason she can't free whelp. But this has sure got me to rethinking. I have alwways given a little calcuim in foood beofre whelp and had only recently stopped after reading research that said not to. Ruth from Ms. Chif Yorkies has been on the phone with me several times already and she saidd we ALL need to rethink this new research. As for me, I am going back to what works for me and yes, Mary we will be looking at a few things after we have the babies. Thanks everyone. Oh BTw, Bama, althou the tums is not the best in a situation like this, it saved my girls life until I could get to the vet.. Again, thanks everyone. I appreciate your prayers and concern.

I agree with you 100% that no one method works for everyone and that we should each do what works for us. That doesn't mean that one person is right and another is wrong, it means that each of us have found methods that are right for our specific situation. I also believe that our vets should be a very important part of our decision making -- if we can't trust our vet then we should be looking for a new one.

In a pinch and in an emergency, we do what we have to do until we can get professional help. I am so glad that Ruth was there to lend some moral support and help.

[BamaFan121s]

Originally Posted by Sugar's Mom

Oh BTw, Bama, althou the tums is not the best in a situation like this, it saved my girls life until I could get to the vet.. Again, thanks everyone. I appreciate your prayers and concern.

In an emergency, I'm sure it would work to some extent so long as your dogs are on a proper diet, as I'm sure yours are. Didn't mean to second guess your actions, just meant to point out that as the primary source of calcium, it wouldn't be suffecient (as you were aware having already stated that you'd been supplementing with CalSorb)....for others who may be reading and unaware.

Glad to hear that your gal is recovering nicely and that the pups are doing well.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Sugar's Mom

Thanks everyone. We are home from the vet. he gave me another calcuim shot to bring home and a bottle of PetCal tabs. She was scared at the vet and we thought she would be beter athome. Still cannot stand on her legs but other sympthoms are gone. He said the babies seemed fine and there should be no reason she can't free whelp. But this has sure got me to rethinking. I have alwways given a little calcuim in foood beofre whelp and had only recently stopped after reading research that said not to. Ruth from Ms. Chif Yorkies has been on the phone with me several times already and she saidd we ALL need to rethink this new research. As for me, I am going back to what works for me and yes, Mary we will be looking at a few things after we have the babies. Thanks everyone. Oh BTw, Bama, althou the tums is not the best in a situation like this, it saved my girls life until I could get to the vet.. Again, thanks everyone. I appreciate your prayers and concern.

Dee,

I'm not questioning your methods, just different things to look at. You stated up that you had always given a little calcium with food. Were you doing it with this girl and stopped. If so, her body just quit producing calcium on it's own and causing the eclaqmptic episode.....just a thought.

[Sugar's Mom]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

Dee, I am so very sorry for the near tragedy you had with the ecamlpsia (hypocalcemia). Although it is fairly uncommon prior to whelping, my Chattie had a serious case 2 weeks before her whelp. Her symptoms were weakness, excessive panting, shaking, and inability to walk. I dashed her immediately to the vet who pulled blood, verified low calcuim and started an calcuim iv drip.

I asked about giving calcuim routinely and Dr. Amy cautioned me against the practice. She explained that if you give calcuim supplements prior to whelping it interferes with the natural process of calcuim production and leaching it from the bones to produce milk. It was recommended to supplement regular meals with calcuim rich foods.

Chattie was an exception - I wound up giving her Cal-Sorb for the last two weeks of pregnancy and throughout the entire lactating period.

I am so glad that you acted quickly and that all is well. Sending hugs to all!!!

Thank you Cindy, iv calcuim is very dangerous. Ruth told me that this morning and my vet confirmed it. My girl is back to herself now. She is walking now. I am going to take a nap. Thanks again.l

[Sugar's Mom]

Originally Posted by BamaFan121s

In an emergency, I'm sure it would work to some extent so long as your dogs are on a proper diet, as I'm sure yours are. Didn't mean to second guess your actions, just meant to point out that as the primary source of calcium, it wouldn't be suffecient (as you were aware having already stated that you'd been supplementing with CalSorb)....for others who may be reading and unaware.

Glad to hear that your gal is recovering nicely and that the pups are doing well.

Thanks Misty. I am off to take a nap now. I have been up for three nights in a row.

[Sugar's Mom]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Dee,

I'm not questioning your methods, just different things to look at. You stated up that you had always given a little calcium with food. Were you doing it with this girl and stopped. If so, her body just quit producing calcium on it's own and causing the eclaqmptic episode.....just a thought.

No Mary, I would never do that. I mean I had always given my girls a little cottage cheese or pudding in ONE of their extra meals a day before whelping but have recently stopped that practice and was only going to give it postwhelp. This girl was never supplemented. Sorry I didn't make myself clear. I am brain dead right noww so methinks, I need to turn the computer off and go to bed awhile. Thanks for all your help.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Sugar's Mom

Thank you Cindy, iv calcuim is very dangerous. Ruth told me that this morning and my vet confirmed it. My girl is back to herself now. She is walking now. I am going to take a nap. Thanks again.l

IV Calcium is very dangerous. I found that out recently when with my last litter in October my girl went down a week after her whelp. And wouldn't you know on a Sunday evening. I ran her to emergency and they ran blood tests and found she was a bit dehydrated, calcium levels a bit low and anemic. So, the emergency vet diagnosed her with Eclampsia and administered the IV. She had a very allergic reaction to it. Since she wasn't much better in the morning I took her to the vets, she wasn't eclamptic. What was revealed at the time of her spay was that her horn had ripped during whelping.

[chattiesmom]

Originally Posted by Sugar's Mom

Thank you Cindy, iv calcuim is very dangerous. Ruth told me that this morning and my vet confirmed it. My girl is back to herself now. She is walking now. I am going to take a nap. Thanks again.l

Originally Posted by Mardelin

IV Calcium is very dangerous.

Thank you for for your posts. You are entirely right - the calcium drip can be very dangerous. It was administered by a very skilled vet, under constant supervision, very very slowly.

This is why I always recommend having a vet that you trust with your Yorkie's life -- you never know when you might be in an emergency situation where you have to trust them with your Yorkie's life.

[bjh]

I agree that there is no one set way of doing things that works for all. Dee, what this the pregnant momma that had not been eating well? I really feel that diet plus the number of pups the mom is carrying has a lot to do with if the momma gets eclampsia or not. I have had to deal with it several times over the years but every since I have kept Cal-sorb on hand I have not had to take a female to the vet for eclampsia. I think pre-eclampsia is a lot more rare but it can happen and everyone should be aware of it. I advise everyone to always have Cal-sorb on hand. Also, breeders with pregnant and nursing mommas, make sure they are eating well and if they are not I feel you should supplement them with Nutri-cal and do whatever it takes to make sure they get a balanced diet. I know it is not always easy to do. Eclampsia can occur at any time with the nursing momma, even when they have puppies 6 weeks or older. It is so important to make sure the momma is getting plenty of quality food.

Dee, I hope your momma has a safe delivery. I know you have been doing all you can for her. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try to do the right thing, things just don't go right. Unfortunately, there are always exceptions to the rules.

[Breny]

Just seeing this Dee, thanks for posting to help educate and I am glad your girl is home and on the mend. Take care.

[ChantalB]

I am glade your female feel better.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Sugar's Mom

No Mary, I would never do that. I mean I had always given my girls a little cottage cheese or pudding in ONE of their extra meals a day before whelping but have recently stopped that practice and was only going to give it postwhelp. This girl was never supplemented. Sorry I didn't make myself clear. I am brain dead right noww so methinks, I need to turn the computer off and go to bed awhile. Thanks for all your help.

Gotcha. When my girl went down, my husband (he does the feeding) thought because he was doing the cottage cheese, cheese, etc. That he was administering calcium artificially, hence inhibiting her natural calcium producing. He contacted our vet in Texas and he assured him that wasn't the case. It was revealed after additional research and conformation with a reproductive specialists I found here. That cottage cheese and tums, ice cream did not stop this process and what I posted previously was the best method to use. So, I continue the cottage cheese, cheese, etc along with Solid Gold Concept A Bitch.

As has been said before "This Breed Can Bring Us To Our Knees"

[scrapindee]

Oh my, how scary. I am just reading this now. I hope for an easy delivery for you and your girl.

[Robin Lodal]

Wow, you had a long morning that's for sure! I am glad that you were able to catch these signs and get her to vet asap.

I pray for a quick recovery, lots of sleep, and a smooth whelp.

[abbey46923]

Dee, I am so sorry you had to go through this with your girl, i am praying for a safe delivery and that mom & babies will be healthy.