Hypercalcaemia

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    • Usually the result of dietary imbalance.
    • Produces metastatic vascular calcification.


  • Hypercalcaemia should not be ignored in an unwell animal.
    • The consequences of hypercalcaemia may be serious: prolonged untreated hypercalcaemia can lead to irreversible damage to many organs, particularly the kidneys.
    • There are multiple causes of hypercalcaemia, but if it is caught early a specific diagnosis and treatment are often possible.
  • The clinical signs of hypercalcaemia are often vague.
    • Signs commonly include:
      • PU/PD
      • Anorexia
      • Dehydration
      • Weakness or lethargy
      • Vomiting
      • Prerenal azotaemia
    • More uncommonly, hypercalcaemia may present with:
  • Causes of hypercalcaemia may be:
    1. Nonpathologic
      • This may be due to:
        • Age - young animals have naturally higher calcium levels.
        • Lab error
        • Lipaemia
      • It is important to establish whether hypercalcaemia is true before persuing further diagnosis and treatment.
    2. Transient...
      • ...hypoadrenocorticism
      • ...haemoconcentration
      • ...hyperproteinaemia
    3. Pathological