Author, Donkey, Bureaucrats, Administrators
53,803
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
no edit summary
==Consequences of Calcium Deficiency==
==Consequences of Calcium Deficiency==
[[File:134957 Lat lumbar spine.jpg|200px|right|thumb|A 2 month old Great Dane puppy with a history of eating an unbalanced diet. The bone density is overall decreased with a poor corticomedullary distinction.]]
===Dog:===
===Dog:===
The classic syndrome of calcium deficiency in dogs is known as '''nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSHP)''', which is caused by a persistent decrease in circulating calcium in the blood (hypocalcaemia). This, in turn, stimulates the release of parathyroid hormone (PTH), which increases the reabsorption of bone to provide the calcium required to maintain a normal ionised calcium (iCa) blood concentration. The inevitable consequence is a major decrease in bone mineral content, which can lead to skeletal problems such as <span style="color:red">pathologic fractures (Dan to provide a radiograph)</span><ref>Hazewinkel, HAW, van den Brom, WE, Vanꞌt Klooster, AT, Voorhout, G, Van Wees, A (1991). “Calcium metabolism in great Dane dogs fed diets with various calcium and phosphorus levels”. J. Nutr. 121 (suppl):S99-S106.</ref>. This is particularly serious for young puppies, where active growth of the skeleton is occurring. The condition typically results from feeding diets deficient in calcium such as those composed mainly of meats, since all meats (including offal) have a very low calcium content. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus is also important and it is the low ratio in these foods (i.e. Ca:P much less than 1:1) that contributes to the adverse effects because the '''high phosphorus level inhibits calcium absorption'''.
The classic syndrome of calcium deficiency in dogs is known as '''nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSHP)''', which is caused by a persistent decrease in circulating calcium in the blood (hypocalcaemia). This, in turn, stimulates the release of parathyroid hormone (PTH), which increases the reabsorption of bone to provide the calcium required to maintain a normal ionised calcium (iCa) blood concentration. The inevitable consequence is a major decrease in bone mineral content, which can lead to skeletal problems such as <span style="color:red">pathologic fractures (Dan to provide a radiograph)</span><ref>Hazewinkel, HAW, van den Brom, WE, Vanꞌt Klooster, AT, Voorhout, G, Van Wees, A (1991). “Calcium metabolism in great Dane dogs fed diets with various calcium and phosphorus levels”. J. Nutr. 121 (suppl):S99-S106.</ref>. This is particularly serious for young puppies, where active growth of the skeleton is occurring. The condition typically results from feeding diets deficient in calcium such as those composed mainly of meats, since all meats (including offal) have a very low calcium content. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus is also important and it is the low ratio in these foods (i.e. Ca:P much less than 1:1) that contributes to the adverse effects because the '''high phosphorus level inhibits calcium absorption'''.
==Diagnosing Calcium Deficiency==
==Diagnosing Calcium Deficiency==
In animals with skeletal abnormalities, <span style="color:red">radiography can be used to assess bone density (Dan to provide image)</span>. Assessment of total blood calcium and iCa is also required. Normal total blood calcium in dogs ranges from 2.2-3.8 mmol/L [9.0-11.5 mg/dL] and 2.0-2.6 mmol/L [8.0-10.5 mg/dL] in cats, respectively. In dogs, the iCa range is 1.2-1.5 mmol/L and for cats it ranges from 1.1-1.4 mmol/L<ref>Schenck, PA, Chew, DJ, Nagode, LA, Rosol, TJ. (2012). “Disorders of Calcium: Hypercalcemia and Hypocalcemia. In: Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Disorders, 4th Edition. Dibartola SP (Editor). Sanders Elsevier St Louis, MO pp 120-194.</ref>.
In animals with skeletal abnormalities, radiography can be used to assess bone density (see image). Assessment of total blood calcium and iCa is also required. Normal total blood calcium in dogs ranges from 2.2-3.8 mmol/L [9.0-11.5 mg/dL] and 2.0-2.6 mmol/L [8.0-10.5 mg/dL] in cats, respectively. In dogs, the iCa range is 1.2-1.5 mmol/L and for cats it ranges from 1.1-1.4 mmol/L<ref>Schenck, PA, Chew, DJ, Nagode, LA, Rosol, TJ. (2012). “Disorders of Calcium: Hypercalcemia and Hypocalcemia. In: Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Disorders, 4th Edition. Dibartola SP (Editor). Sanders Elsevier St Louis, MO pp 120-194.</ref>.
<br><br>
<br><br>
==References==
==References==