Hypokalaemia

Introduction

Hypokalaemia occurs most commonly in cats secondary to Chronic Renal Failure and is the most common electrolyte abnormality seen in small animal practise. Potassium is important for nervous and muscle conduction, especially in cardiac muscle. It also has metabolic functions. The classic clinical sign is ventroflexion of the neck, with the cat unable to raise its head properly.

Clinical Signs

The severity of clinical signs is normally proportional to the severity of hypokalaemia.

• Ventroflexion of the neck
• Lethargy and fatigue
• Crouched gait and reluctance to walk
• Muscle pain
• Hindlimb stiffness progressing to weakness and ataxia

Onset of clinical signs may be acute or chronic, demonstrable when serum levels of potassium drop below 2.5-3.0 mmol/L.

Diagnosis

• The hypokalaemia is associated with diarrhoea and dehydration in calves.
  • Animals die from cardiac arrest following ventricular dissociation.