Calcium Amounts After Whelping
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Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.
Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.
Good Dog is on a mission to educate the public, support dog breeders, and promote canine health so we can give our dogs the world they deserve.
Q: Some bitches seem to require large amounts of calcium to maintain balance after whelping. My Italian Spinone required 3 clicks of Calsorb every two hours post whelp for 5 days to keep her balanced. I gave 3 scoops 3 times a day of the Breeders Edge Calcium powder as well. Is it ok to just adjust based on the demeanor of the bitch? I don't want to do more harm than good with too much calcium.
A: Using food to provide enough calcium and phosphorus after whelping is not effective due to the huge amounts of food we would need to stuff into our bitches to achieve those amounts and balance. This is why the Doc Roys Healthy Bones/Granules, OsteoForm SA, or even PetCal are also great choices for use. After whelping bitches need 1.4% calcium in their diet, and we need to keep calcium balanced with phosphorus, ideally 1:1, after whelping as creating an imbalance between those two elements can cause its own problems too (Davidson, 2012).
I treat the dog in front of me, and I believe in using the least amount to achieve the goal. With calcium post whelping it is a balancing act, and not every dog needs the same amounts or being on the same schedule. My goal with my girls is to find their sweet spot, on timing and quantity, this way I do not have a break-through subclinical eclampsia behavior.
Remember to watch for these symptoms of eclampsia, a life-threatening condition, and loop in your veterinarian if you see any of these:
- Weakness
- Tremors
- Restlessness/nervousness
- Panting
- Change in behavior
- Muscle spasms
- Rapid, heavy breathing
- Disorientation
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Incoordination/difficulty walking
- Sensitivity to sound, light, and touch
- Tetany (entire body goes stiff)
- Hyperthermia (body temperature rises)
- Seizures
