| Line 2: |
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| | ** Produces metastatic vascular calcification. | | ** Produces metastatic vascular calcification. |
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| − | [[Category:Circulatory Disorders - Pathology]] | + | |
| | + | * 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 |
| | + | *** [[Control of Feeding - Anatomy & Physiology#The Vomit Reflex|Vomiting]] |
| | + | *** Prerenal azotaemia |
| | + | ** More uncommonly, hypercalcaemia may present with: |
| | + | *** Constipation |
| | + | *** Cardiac arrhythmia |
| | + | *** Seizures or twitching |
| | + | *** [[Acute Renal Failure|Acute renal failure]] |
| | + | *** Death |
| | + | * Causes of hypercalcaemia may be: |
| | + | *# 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. |
| | + | *# Transient... |
| | + | *#* ...hypoadrenocorticism |
| | + | *#* ...haemoconcentration |
| | + | *#* ...hyperproteinaemia |
| | + | *# Pathological |
| | + | *#* Malignancy |
| | + | *#* Lymphoma |
| | + | *#* [[Anal Sac Adenocarcinoma|Anal sac adenocarcinoma]] |
| | + | *#* [[:Category:Renal Failure|Renal failure]] |
| | + | *#* [[Hypervitaminosis D|Hypervitaminosis D]] |
| | + | *#* Granulomatous disease |
| | + | *#** E.g fungal infections |
| | + | *#* [[Hyperparathyroidism|Primary hyperparathyroidism]] |
| | + | *#* Skeletal lesions |
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| | + | |
| | + | [[Category:Parathyroid Glands - Pathology]] |
| | + | |
| | + | [[Category:Vascular Fluid]] |
| | + | [[Category:Cardiology Section]] |