You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Hypercalcaemia is increasingly being recognised on laboratory analysis of blood samples from cats and dogs ...but the clinical signs of hypercalcaemia are not specific

Hypercalcaemia exists when the serum calcium concentration exceeds 6mEq/L (12mg/dl)  - in both cats and dogs, although concentrations over 4mmol/L can result in renal failure, soft tissue mineralisation , cardiac dysrhythmia and dysfunction. About 50% of calcium in the blood is present as free ionised calcium, 40-45% is ionically bound to anionic protein (mainly albumin) and 5-10% is bound to non-protein anions eg lactate, phosphate or citrate. The free ionised calcium is biologically active under hormone regulation and associated with pathological states. 

The clinical signs associated with hypercalcaemia include :

• Inappetence (anorexia)
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Polydipsia
• Polyuria
• Constipation * See Below
• Depression
• Abdominal pain
• Dehydration

These signs are non-specific and therefore blood calcium estimations should be made whenever a dog or cat presents with the above signs and the primary cause is undetermined.

The most common causes of hypercalcaemia are :

• Hypercalcaemia secondary to malignant disease (pseudohyperparathyroidism)
• Secondary to chronic or acute renal failure
• Secondary to granulomatous diseases
• Primary hyperparathyroidism
• Hypervitaminosis D
• Addison's Disease (hypoadrenocorticism)
• Bone lysis (non-malignant causes)
• Status epilepticus
• Hyperproteinaemia with/without hyperalbuminaemia
• Dehydration

Rare causes of hypercalcaemia are :

• Hyperthyroidism
• Hypervitaminosis A
• Hypocalcitonism
• Hypothermia
• Hypothyroidism

FEEDBACK REQUEST

Chronic constipation is a problem for some dogs and cats. If you have screened such cases for blood calcium please send your findings to Provet at feedback@provet.co.uk  . Many Thanks

To be Updated November 2013