How to Prevent Eclampsia in Dogs
To help protect your dog from eclampsia during her pregnancy, offer her a high-quality, meat-based diet. In addition to eating high-quality food, she will also need additional calories during the later part of her pregnancy, so ask your vet how much food to give your dog and what kind. While eclampsia is often associated with low calcium levels, don't give your dog a calcium supplement unless your vet recommends it, since this may actually increase her eclampsia risk. If your vet thinks your dog is at risk of developing eclampsia, talk to them about giving her cortisone injections as a preventative measure.
Feed the dog a high-quality meat based diet. The best way to prevent eclampsia in a pregnant dog is to give the dam a well-balanced diet rich in high-quality meat. Make sure the dam gets enough vitamins and minerals in the food she is eating on a daily basis. However, a common cause of eclampsia is when an owner gives extra meat, believing the extra protein will do the dog good. In fact, the meat is low calcium and alters the calcium:phosphate ratio in the blood, and actually drives down blood calcium levels. The best solution is to feed a diet for growth (such as a puppy food) in the last part of pregnancy. For the first four to five weeks of your dog's pregnancy, feed her a regular amount of high-quality dog food. For the last four weeks of your dog's pregnancy, give her 30 to 50% more calories than her regular diet. You can ask your vet for food recommendations if you are not sure what to feed a pregnant dog. Avoid calcium supplements. Though eclampsia is caused by low calcium levels, giving your dog supplements will only increase her risk of eclampsia. The dog should get enough calcium, phosphorus, and Vitamin D from her food. If you want to add supplements to her diet, only give her a small amount when she is mid-term in her pregnancy. You can give her a balanced source of calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin D in very small amounts. Always give your dog a balanced amount of calcium and phosphorus, with a ratio of one calcium to two parts phosphorus. Never give the dog calcium supplements alone, as this can increase her risk of eclampsia. Milk is can be a good supplement source of Vitamin D and calcium for your dog. Make sure the milk is not causing your dog to have loose stool. If so, stop giving it to her. You can also give the dog fish oil to make sure she is getting enough omega-3 fatty acids. Ask your vet about giving the dog cortisone. Cortisone has been shown in exceptional cases to be helpful at preventing eclampsia in dogs. Cortisone usually comes in the form of an injection. Talk to your vet about this preventative measure. Try to talk to your vet about cortisone treatment while your dog is still pregnant or if this is your dog's second pregnancy and you are worried about her developing eclampsia. Provide calcium supplements for the nursing dog. Once the dog has given birth to the litter and is nursing the pups, you should give her a calcium supplement. This will ensure her calcium levels do not drop. It can also be beneficial for the puppies, especially a large litter of puppies. You can find calcium supplements for dogs at your local pet store or online. Make sure you check the label of the supplement to confirm it contains mostly calcium. If you are unsure about the supplement, speak to your vet before giving it to your nursing dog. Give the puppies milk replacer. You should also try to get the puppies to have milk replacer instead of their mother's milk within the first 24 hours of birth. This will put less of a demand on the mother to produce milk for the puppies and reduce her risk of developing eclampsia. You should then start giving the puppies solid food when they are three to four weeks old. This will help to lessen the demand on the mother to produce subsistence for the puppies. Wean the puppies off the mother. When the puppies are three to four weeks old, they should be weaned off the mother so they can be self-sufficient and not put the mother at risk of eclampsia. Start by separating the mother from the litter for a few hours at a time. Once the puppies are separated from the mother, have the puppies eat high-quality puppy food from a pan. Moisten the food with water or milk replacer. Encourage the puppies to eat from the pan by allowing them to lick the food off your fingers. Most puppies will get the hint and feed from the pan on their own. Put a bowl of fresh water out so the puppies can also drink whenever they'd like. This will ensure they stay hydrated. Make sure the mother is on a separate feeding schedule as the puppies so she remains healthy and does not overproduce milk. You can speak to your vet about exactly how much food to feed the mother so she gets the nutrients she needs once she stops producing milk. Notice if the nursing dog is panting, whining or appears nauseous. Most dogs will show signs of eclampsia within 40 days of giving birth. The symptoms of the disorder rarely appear while the dog is pregnant. If you notice the nursing dog is panting, whining, or appears nauseous, she may have developed eclampsia. You should also notice if she is vomiting or has diarrhea. These are also symptoms of eclampsia. Pay attention to how the nursing dog walks and moves. You should also observe how the nursing dog walks. Does she have a stiff gait or a clumsy walk? Does she get muscle tremors or does her body go stiff when she tries to move? You should also note if the mother seems disoriented, restless, or nervous. These are all possible signs of eclampsia. Notice if the nursing dog lies down with her paws rigidly extended within 8 to 12 hours of her other symptoms. This is often a symptom of eclampsia. Sometimes dogs with eclampsia have poor maternal skills and show little interest in the puppies or in nursing the puppies. Check the nursing dog’s temperature and breathing. You should also note if the nursing dog has a high body temperature or a fever. You may use an animal thermometer to take her temperature to confirm it is higher than normal. Rapid, heavy breathing is also another symptom of eclampsia. When you are examining her temperature and her breathing, you may notice her pupils are dilated and slow to contract when they are exposed to light. Bring the dog to the vet if you suspect eclampsia. The vet will do a physical exam on the nursing dog and confirm the dog's symptoms. Once your dog is diagnosed with eclampsia, the vet may recommend a slow injection of calcium solution to treat the issue. They may also give the dog calcium and vitamin D supplements to help with the issue, as well as cortisone or steroid injections. With the right treatment, many nursing dogs recover from eclampsia. 
Feed the dog a high-quality meat based diet. Avoid calcium supplements. Ask your vet about giving the dog cortisone. Provide calcium supplements for the nursing dog. Give the puppies milk replacer. Wean the puppies off the mother. Notice if the nursing dog is panting, whining or appears nauseous. Pay attention to how the nursing dog walks and moves. Check the nursing dog’s temperature and breathing. Bring the dog to the vet if you suspect eclampsia. 