Eclampsia

Question 1

Two other names for eclampsia

Answer 1

• puerperal tetany (period around birth, tremors & seizures)

- hypocalcemia

Question 2

Define eclampsia

Answer 2

acute condition of pregnant and lactating dogs characterized by a decrease in serum calcium concentration

Question 3

What factors may lead to the development of hypocalcemia during pregnancy or lactation?

Answer 3

• Maternal milk production –> if dietary Ca intake can’t compensate for the additional loss of Ca to milk, hypocalcemia can result
• Poor diet –> can adversely affect the parathyroid glad resulting in atrophy and decreased PTH production which leads to hypocalcemia (b/c PTH can’t work like normal to increase blood calcium enough if calcium level falls
• Hyperventilation –> causes alkalosis which decreases serum ionized calcium lvl
• Any condition that decreases ionized serum calcium

Question 4

During what stage(s) of pregnancy/lactation eclampsia is prone to develop?

Answer 4

• primarily during early lactation

- can occur later on, but not as common

Question 5

Who is at risk for eclampsia

Answer 5

small and medium sized dogs

Question 6

What are the effects of hypocalcemia on the body?

Answer 6

• Calcium does a lot of things; one of those things is how it maintenances the neuronal cell membrane electrical potential
• Decreased serum ionized calcium alters neuronal cell membrane potential –> leads to spontaneous discharging of nerve fibers –> results in tonic/clonic contractions of skeletal muscle

Question 7

Describe clinical signs associated with eclampsia and know the pathophysiology that leads to those signs

Answer 7

• early on –> nervousness, agitation, irritability, pacing, panting, whining
• progresses to ataxia, pain, pytalism (extreme production of saliva)

If not treated, progresses to

• tonic/clonic muscle spasms or contractions
• muscle fasciculations, and occasionally seizure activity
• high sensitivity to noise/touch
• pyrexia (due to muscle usage)
• tachycardia

Question 8

Alterations in PE of eclampsia patient

Answer 8

• If early on, PE may be normal

- If later on, P may present with pyrexia or tachycardia, muscle tremors

Question 9

Primary medical therapy used when eclampsia is suspected

• med used
• goal
• complications and what to do

Answer 9

• IV Calcium
• Goal: return serum calcium concentration back to a normal level
• Complications- must be given slowly with P hooked up to ECG b/c it is a risky procedure for the heart
• if any alterations to ECG, stop IV calcium and only resume it at a lower level once the heart returns to normal.

Question 10

What nursing techniques may be beneficial for eclampsia patients?

Answer 10

• oral supplements if continued admin of CA is needed following acute therapy
• make sure mother is getting adequate nutrition (premium commercial growth formula is recommended)
• alternate nursing and bottle feeding puppies that are too young to be weaned
• if old enough to be weaned, wean them!