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.

There are several possible causes of hyperphosphataemia

Normal plasma inorganic phosphate concentrations are :

• Dog - 0.8-1.6 mmol/l  (OR 1.4-2.9mEq/l OR 2.5-5 mg/dl)
• Cat - 1.3-2.6 mmol/l (OR 2.3-4.7 mEq/l OR 4-8 mg/dl)

Causes of hyperphosphataemia include :

• Growing animals may have high blood phosphate concentrations - up to twice the normal maximum 
• Imbalanced diet - inadequate calcium/excessive phosphorus ; excess vitamin D intake
• Renal failure - inability to excrete phosphate - chronic, acute, Fanconi syndrome
• Ruptured bladder
• Hypoadrenocorticism in cats - kost have hyperphosphataemia
• Feline hyperthyroidism - c50% have high phosphate
• Hypoparathyroidism -  deficiency of PTH leads to retention of phosphate in the kidney
• Bone tumours - mainly secondary metastatic spread rather than  primary neoplasia
• Acromegaly in female dogs - due to excess growth hormone

NB Blood estimations are unreliable if the blood sample has undergone haemolysis as this can lead to false high phospahte readings.

Last updated : October 2013