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Calcium is a nutritional requirement for dogs as equally important as for humans. Lactating (nursing) female dogs (bitches) require a high calcium nutritional diet (such as "performance' type of dog food), supporting the health of their pups, consume large quantity of milk. For example: "With an average litter of pups, a Beagle bitch will need to produce about one quart of milk per day." 1 Preferably female dog nutritional diet should be a ratio of calcium to phosphorous of 1.2 to one. 6 When a female dog has an insufficient (deficiency) amount of calcium necessary to provide her nursing pups, referred to as "pre-tetanic eclampsia" (hypocalcemia 2) or low calcium levels. 3 Also, other names associated to this condition include pospartum hypocalcemia, periparturient hypocalcemia ("Milk Fever" 9), and puerperal tetany. 1 Hypocalcemia is less common for cats. 4

Hypocalcemia common cause unbalanced nutritional diet by dog owners wrongfully assuming extra protein is beneficial for female dogs. Also, other related causes for hypocalcemia include: "Low Blood Levels of Albumen - Dietary protein deficiency or excessive loss from the body of albumen, which happens in some kidney diseases, will cause low levels of calcium." And a rare condition or disease of the Parathyroid Glands (Parathyroid Glands located behind the thyroid gland regulate calcium level within a very narrow range, so that nervous and muscular systems function healthy 7) 6 Also, heavy calcium supplementation during pregnancy increase the risk of hypocalcemia and generally not recommended. "If a dog receives increased amounts of calcium during pregnancy, her body's production of parathyroid hormone greatly decreases." When the bitch needs large quantity of calcium to feed her puppies, the system is not working efficiently to start removing it from the bone."Because of the lack of parathyroid hormone, the blood calcium level suddenly drops, and produces the signs of eclampsia." 8

Symptoms of hypocalcemia develop when a sufficient amount of calcium is unable to be absorbed or mobilized from the skeletal system. 1: Pacing, high temperature (As high as 106 degrees could cause irreversible brain damage. Normal dog's body temperature: 101 - 102 degrees. 6) , restless or whining attitude, seizures (As a result of low blood sugar 6), vomiting, unsteadiness or rigid muscles cause inability to stand or walk, and ignoring the puppies. 2. Symptoms become apparent within seven to twenty-four days after giving birth

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