Primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism in cats: symptoms, treatment. Eclampsia in cats: how it manifests itself, what to do, how to help your pet

Hypocalcemia is an abnormally low level of calcium in the blood, causing a life-threatening condition, accompanied by muscle tremors, seizures, and heart failure.

Maintaining a normal level of calcium in the blood is a long and complex process in the body, which involves not only the parathyroid glands. And it is important to understand that a failure in the chain of a certain link in this process can lead to hypocalcemia.

The functions of important components of the body that maintain a normal level of calcium in the blood:

Parathyroid glands: Control the levels of calcium, phosphate and magnesium in the blood. The blood is filtered through these glands and if calcium levels are too low, they produce and release parathyroid hormones into the blood, which increase blood levels of calcium by pulling calcium from the bones, increase the absorption of calcium from food, and increase the ability of the kidneys to stop excreting calcium in the urine. If calcium levels are too high, the activity of parathyroid hormone production by the parathyroid glands slows down or stops altogether, and calcium returns to the bones.
Vitamin D3 (calcitriol): is a fat-soluble vitamin (it is stored in adipose tissue and the liver) and is also activated by parathyroid hormone. It increases calcium and phosphate levels. When calcium levels in the blood are low, vitamin D is activated, which helps the intestines absorb more dietary calcium.
Hormone calcitonin: Produced by special cells (known as parafollicular cells) of the thyroid gland. If the level of calcium in the blood is too high, calcitonin is produced. Its action is to reduce calcium by absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, which allows the kidneys to excrete more calcium in the urine, blocking the activity of osteoclasts in the bones and increasing the activity of osteoblasts in the bones.
Kidneys: They filter the blood and when they function properly, they are able to maintain normal calcium levels.
Bones are reservoirs of calcium. When the level drops, calcium is drawn from the bone tissue into the blood. When levels are too high, calcium returns to the bones.
Small intestine: Dietary calcium is absorbed here.

There are three forms of calcium in the blood

Causes of hypocalcemia:

Hypoparathyroidism (low concentration of parathyroid hormone in the blood). This usually occurs during surgery to remove the thyroid gland, in the treatment of hyperthyroidism in cats. The parathyroid glands may be accidentally removed or damaged during surgery.
Eclampsia, or milk fever, is a condition that occurs in lactating cats. The exact cause is not yet fully understood, but it is generally accepted that it is an imbalance between calcium outflow (through milk) and inflow (from the bones and gastrointestinal tract).
Chronic renal failure – cats with kidney failure often have elevated phosphate levels (hyperphosphatemia). Phosphate, like calcium, helps build strong bones and also requires vitamin D for absorption. In a healthy cat, excess phosphate is filtered by the kidneys and excreted in the urine. However, when the kidneys begin to fail, phosphate levels may begin to rise. As phosphate rises, calcium levels decrease.
Hypoalbuminemia (low albumin). Because protein-bound calcium is primarily bound to albumin, when albumin levels fall, so does protein-bound calcium. At the same time, the levels of ionized calcium and calcium in the form of a complex remain normal. There are many possible reasons for this, including malnutrition, liver failure (albumin is produced in the liver), and inflammation.
Pancreatitis. This is inflammation of the pancreas. Phosphorus enemas used to treat cats with severe constipation. Cat dehydration is the main symptom of constipation and these animals are particularly at risk. There is an increase in phosphate levels due to the absorbed phosphate from the enema, which causes a low level of calcium in the blood.
Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D plays an important role in the absorption of calcium in the intestine. Cats get their vitamin D through the sun. UV rays are absorbed by the cat's fur, the fat from her skin produces vitamin D, and then enters the body when the cat grooms her coat. Cats also get vitamin D from food. Not all commercially available commercial cat food has adequate amounts of vitamin D, and the same can be said for homemade food.
Antifreeze poisoning. When the liver tries to metabolize ethylene glycol, it is converted to oxalate. It combines with calcium and begins to form oxalate crystals in the kidneys, which leads to a decrease in calcium levels in the blood.

Since calcium controls muscle contraction and nerve impulses, most of the symptoms are related to neuromuscular activity and include the following:

Anxiety.
Neuromuscular excitability (nervousness, mustache twitching, face rubbing, tetany - involuntary muscle contractions).
Lethargy.
Heavy gait (stiff legs).
Hard breath.
The respiratory rate increases.
Anorexia (loss of appetite).
Fever.
Seizures.

Diagnosis of hypocalcemia in cats and cats

Based on a complete physical examination by a veterinarian taking into account the medical history of the affected cat, including recent thyroid surgery, the cat's medical history and reproductive status.

Laboratory tests will be carried out:

Blood. Biochemical profile: will show calcium, phosphate, urea nitrogen, creatine and albumin concentration levels. It may also reveal causes such as kidney failure or antifreeze poisoning.
Analysis of urine. It can reveal signs of kidney failure, in case of antifreeze poisoning, show the presence of calcium oxalate crystals.

These two standard tests will help to give a general picture of a cat's health as they determine the amount of calcium in the blood and urine, and also help guide further diagnosis if the cat is suffering from kidney failure.

Kidney failure:

In addition to the biochemical profile and urinalysis, an ultrasound or x-ray is necessary to determine the size.
Determining the specific gravity of urine to see its concentration.

Secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism in kittens (juvenile osteopathy)

Often, owners of puppies and kittens, especially thoroughbred ones, come to our clinic with symptoms that are incomprehensible to them: the pet suddenly stops walking, its hind legs fail, or lameness appears “out of the blue”. Sometimes the symptom of treatment is pain all over the body and inability to move. When talking with the owners, it turns out that they feed the kitten or puppy with meat, milk, baby food, or even food from the table.

On the x-ray we find the following picture.

(Pay attention to how bright the bones of the person fixing the kitten are in relation to the skeleton of the animal).

We see non-radiocontrast bones of the entire skeleton, one might say, “transparent”. What it is? And why do we encounter such a pathology so often?

Etiology and pathogenesis

This disease is characterized by low skeletal mineralization and is commonly seen in small kittens, especially Siamese and Sphynx kittens, who are fed exclusively meat. Meat is rich in phosphorus but low in calcium. For example, in horse meat the ratio of Ca:P is 1:10, in the liver - 1:50, in the heart - 1:50. A diet low in calcium and / or rich in phosphorus leads to temporary hypocalcemia. Other factors that interfere with the absorption of calcium are gastrointestinal diseases, thyroid diseases, high levels of vitamins A and D in the diet, kidney failure, high levels of fluoride, magnesium and phytin. This stimulates the release of the parathyroid hormone, which acts on the bones, kidneys, and intestines to keep calcium levels in the blood normal.

Calcium homeostasis (magnesium and phosphate) is regulated by the combined action of parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D and calcitonin. The main target organs are bones, small intestine and kidneys. The location of most of the calcium, phosphate and magnesium in the body is the skeleton. The concentration of these minerals in plasma and extracellular fluid is maintained within narrow limits. About 50% of ionized calcium (Ca2+) is associated with albumin. The main source of phosphate is food, its absorption from the intestine is regulated by growth hormone and vitamin D (thus, the increased concentration of phosphate in growing animals is due to growth hormone). Most of the phosphate is filtered through the glomeruli and reabsorbed by the tubules. Magnesium is ingested through food and is the second most abundant cation found in soft tissues after potassium. Magnesium is a catalyst for many intracellular reactions and plays an important role in muscle contraction. Magnesium absorption is facilitated by 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. The increased content of calcium and magnesium in food reduces the absorption of magnesium from the intestine.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is produced by the chief cells of the parathyroid glands in response to a decrease in the concentration of ionized calcium in the blood, and, conversely, an increase in the level of ionized calcium leads to inhibition of PTH by a feedback mechanism. How does PTH increase blood calcium levels? As soon as the parathyroid cells receive a signal about a decrease in calcium levels, PTH is released into the blood, which, in turn, stimulates osteoclastic resorption (release of calcium from the mobile bone depot) of bone tissue and increases resorption (reabsorption) of calcium by the renal tubules. PTH also stimulates the synthesis and secretion of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol by the kidneys, which enhances the absorption of calcium from the intestine. Bone tissue is in a state of constant remodeling: either osteoclastic processes (calcium release) prevail, or, on the contrary, osteoblastic processes, when calcium returns back to the bone depot.

1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (or calcitriol) is vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) that has been converted in the skin, liver and kidneys. The end point of its formation are the kidneys. Calcitriol stimulates the absorption of calcium and phosphate by the intestines, enhances the effect of PTH on calcium retention by the renal tubules.

Calcitonin is a thyroid hormone secreted by parafollicular C-cells. Its release occurs in response to an increase in ionized calcium in the blood. Calcitonin disrupts the release of free calcium from the bone depot, stopping the osteoclastic process in the bones.
Thus, after prolonged release of parathyroid hormone, the skeleton is greatly weakened. Bone growth is weak, because their resorption exceeds the rate of formation of new bone tissue. In limited areas, the bones are replaced by fibrous tissue.

Siamese cats are the most prone to disease. They give birth to fairly numerous litters; prefer to eat meat and milk. Together, this leads to a lack of calcium, which is not received by very young kittens.

It should be noted that cats have a genetic bone disease (osteogenesis imperfecta), which in its symptoms is very similar to secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism, but, unlike it, has a very unfavorable prognosis.

Excessive calcium intake by animals often leads to hypercalcemia, the presence of which triggers a cascade of reactions with the production of calcitonin, which leads to a decrease in the concentration of calcium ions in the blood plasma. In response to the action of calcitonin, osteoclasts cease to exhibit bone resorptive activity, thereby reducing the level of calcium transfer into the blood. The result of chronic hypercalcemia is a decrease in the normal level of bone tissue remodeling, followed by impaired skeletal formation in growing animals, as well as diseases such as osteochondritis dissecans, rickets, and osteochondrosis.

Clinical signs

Small kittens a few weeks or months old are affected. Lameness is the most indicative symptom. Its causes are musculoskeletal pain or pathological bone fractures. Later, small displacements of the bones are observed. Pathological vertebral fractures can lead to severe neurological impairment, such as paraplegia, incontinence, or urinary retention, and carry a poor prognosis. Weakness of the bones can lead to curvature of the limbs, and deformation of the chest wall, sternum and pelvic bones is also often observed.
In the future, kidney pathology can be detected in animals due to calcium deposition in the renal parenchyma or recurrent nephrolithiasis.

Radiography

The main feature is the loss of bone density. The pictures show a weak contrast between bones and soft tissues. The periosteum is very thin.
Laboratory tests. The levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood are usually normal, except in extremely severe cases. Determination of the level of calcium and phosphorus in the urine is also of little help for diagnosis, although the level of calcium will be lowered. Radioimmunoassay for parathyroid hormone is diagnostic, but this has not yet been done in cats.

Treatment and prognosis

It is necessary to balance the nutritional elements of the diet, and meat should be excluded. Affected animals require a tight cage and anesthesia. In most cases, animals recover quickly. Growth retardation and narrowing of the entrance to the pelvic cavity may remain, which will lead to problems with defecation and the birth of kittens, and residual deformities of the chest will give respiratory problems.

Pathological fractures often do not require treatment other than immobilization. Pathological vertebral fractures carry a very poor prognosis, so cats (especially Siamese and Sphynx breeds) with severe neurological deficits require euthanasia.

Summing up, I would like to note once again that the key to a long and healthy life of your pet is a balanced diet. It will be ready-made food or natural food, it's up to you, the main thing is that the diet is completely balanced in nutrients and trace elements. And the decision about which type of feeding to choose will be made by your veterinarian, not by a breeder, acquaintance or neighbor. Once you have purchased a kitten or puppy, visit the veterinary clinic and ask the doctor about how to properly feed your animal. If all newly-minted owners adhere to this rule, then there will be much fewer puppies and kittens with alimentary hyperparathyroidism!

To begin with, it is worth understanding what the disease is and why it appears in cats.

It is immediately worth clarifying that eclampsia in cats and in humans are two completely different diseases that cannot be identified.

Important! The disease is also called "milk fever".

That is why many owners are confused, because when searching for information related to this disease, they come across the characteristics and symptoms of eclampsia in people, which is expressed in a critical increase in blood pressure.

Eclampsia in cats is a disease that occurs in cats during or after childbirth and is a decrease in the level of calcium in the blood serum to a critical level (hypocalcemia).
Hypocalcemia in cats occurs both due to a lack of calcium, which must be supplied to the animal's body with food, and due to an increased need during pregnancy or after childbirth. At the same time, doctors to this day cannot name the true cause of the onset of the disease, putting forward various theories.

The whole problem lies in the fact that maintaining the required level of calcium in the body is a complex mechanism that is regulated by hormones. A minimal failure in the production of hormones leads to an excess or lack of free calcium in the blood serum, which causes problems with organs and organ systems.

However, it is worth understanding how an increase or decrease in the level of calcium in the blood occurs in order to understand the danger of such a disease.

Important! The disease appears only at the end of pregnancy or in the first month after childbirth.

The fact is that a lot of calcium in the form of salts and crystals is found in the bones, therefore, when it is lacking in the blood serum, a special parathyroid hormone is released, which releases calcium in the form of ions from the bones. Following parathyroid hormone, vitamin D derivatives are formed in the kidneys, which promotes the absorption of calcium in these organs.
However, if there is too much "free" calcium, then the hormone calcitonin is released, which blocks the effect of parathyroid hormone on bone tissue. If the level of calcium ions in the blood serum does not fall, then the deposition of kidney stones begins, as well as the formation of calcium crystals in the tissues, which is not a normal process.

And if mineral deposits form with an excess of calcium, then a more serious problem arises with its shortage: the transmission of nerve impulses between the nervous system and muscles is disrupted.

It’s worth clarifying right away that calcium deficiency occurs in cats of various ages and breeds, so the symptoms in all sick animals will be similar.

Symptoms:

An increase in body temperature up to 41 ° C.
Rapid breathing.
Disruptions in the rhythm of the heart.
Paleness of the mucous membranes.
Refusal to eat.
Restless or sluggish state.

The cat begins to bite the kittens or leaves them.
The animal completely loses its memory or ceases to recognize the owner.
There are convulsions of varying strength and duration.
Loss of coordination.

We wrote above that a lack of calcium affects the neural communication between the CNS and muscles. So, the disease manifests itself in the form of seizures, which are preceded by a nervous state of the animal. The cat begins to be afraid of everything, cannot sit in one place.
Immediately before the attack, the limbs begin to tremble, after which the animal loses coordination, falls, assuming an unnatural posture. There is a spasm of the limbs, breathing becomes heavy, the tongue falls out.

Important! With any contact with an animal during an attack, convulsions intensify, and the general condition worsens.

Between repeated attacks, it can take several hours or several days, but each time the attacks become stronger and more painful.

We figured out the pronounced signs of eclampsia in cats, now it's worth finding out if it is difficult to diagnose the disease and what is needed for this.

Unfortunately, even a good veterinarian will not be able to quickly diagnose the disease, so the diagnosis is divided into several stages that will help to exclude other diseases with similar symptoms:

At the first stage, you provide the specialist with the maximum amount of information related to the life of the animal, diseases, the course of pregnancy, as well as the postpartum period. Based on this information, an initial picture is formed.
At the second stage, an examination is performed, since similar symptoms are also characteristic of trauma to the brain or spinal cord, and other neurological diseases.
At the third stage, blood is taken for analysis to find out the level of calcium. This analysis allows you to make an accurate diagnosis and immediately proceed to the treatment of a sick animal.

Did you know? Scientists have come to the conclusion that cats are semi-domesticated animals. That is, a fluffy pet will live with you while you feed it and watch it, but once in the wild, the animal quickly runs wild and gets used to the new conditions of existence. This is due to the fact that the cat has retained the behavioral model that was in the wild ancestors.

The disease requires the fastest possible response, as the animal falls into a vicious circle, from which it itself cannot get out.

The fact is that with a lack of calcium, food is refused, but the only way to get this substance is to consume a product that is rich in calcium. It turns out that the animal cannot help itself in any way, and the only way to deliver calcium to the body is to inject it with a syringe.

A sick cat needs to urgently inject a sedative, as well as a calcium-containing preparation warmed up to the body temperature of the animal. In the absence of first aid, the animal may die within 12 hours after the first attack, so you should not hesitate to call the veterinarian.

Did you know? Despite the fact that in movies and cartoons, cats regularly drink milk and enjoy it, in reality, most of these animals suffer from lactose intolerance. That is, they lack an enzyme that helps break down lactose in the intestines, which causes digestive problems.

Treatment of eclampsia in cats is carried out according to the following scheme:

If calcium deficiency occurs before childbirth, then a caesarean section is prescribed to alleviate the condition of the animal.
The appointment of therapy, which is based on the introduction of calcium in the required form. All this must be done as soon as possible. The condition of the cat is monitored by a specialist, and the work of the heart is also monitored.
If the disease manifests itself during the feeding of kittens, then the latter are removed from the cat for a day and fed with artificial nutrition. The animal is placed in a darkened room. If the condition does not improve, then therapy is carried out, and the kittens are left on artificial nutrition.

It is important to remember that any drugs that are injected into a cat should be prescribed exclusively by a veterinarian - this is not the case when you can give some pills and forget about the problem.

The disease cannot be cured without the intervention of a doctor, on your own, so do not even try to inject drugs yourself, as you can kill the animal.

Given the severity of the disease, preventive measures should be taken to exclude the possibility of the onset of the disease or prevent recurrent hypocalcemia:

Regular check-ups with a doctor, which are designed to help identify problems in a timely manner.
Diverse diet. Products should be rich not only in proteins and vitamins, but also in calcium. Sometimes special additives will not interfere if the standard food does not supply a sufficient amount of this element to the body.

If a cat has previously had a disease, then it is necessary to increase the time interval between births so as not to injure the animal's body and not test it for strength. Any disease in one way or another affects the health and functionality of various organs, so it is better to postpone pregnancy.

Now you know what eclampsia is in cats, how it differs from the “human” version of the disease, why the animal lacks calcium after childbirth or during pregnancy, and you are also familiar with the symptoms of the disease.

Keep in mind that young cats can go longer without a doctor's help than older ones, so the older your pet, the more often you should take him to the veterinarian for examination.
Do not forget that some diseases cannot be cured at home.

Any problem in cats, cats and kittens must be dealt with with the support of a qualified veterinarian, as situations can be more serious than they first appear.

This article provides introductory information for those who want to understand what it is and how this problem is treated in pets, because not everyone has an idea about it and understands how serious the problem is and what the consequences may be.

Hyperparathyroidism in a cat, what is it, symptoms and consequences

Hyperparathyroidism in a cat is a disease associated with a change in the level of calcium in the blood.
Symptoms of the disease are manifested in frequent urination, general muscle weakness, and subsequently deformities of the animal's skeleton.

Alimentary hyperparathyroidism in kittens, what to do

Alimentary hyperparathyroidism in kittens, as a rule, is provoked by an improper diet - the consumption of a large amount of meat, fish and cereals saturated with phosphorus and a simultaneous lack of foods containing calcium.

To the question "What to do?" the answer is obvious - you need to radically change the diet of kittens and, if possible, limit their mobility until the kids finally get stronger.

Primary and secondary alimentary hyperparathyroidism in kittens and cats how and how to treat

Treatment of primary and secondary alimentary hyperparathyroidism in kittens and adult cats is reduced to a balanced diet of animals.

In this case, it is better to give preference to ready-made feeds, since it is difficult and tedious to calculate the diet for natural feeding.

Of the medicines, veterinarians usually prescribe calcium injections and painkillers to four-legged patients.

Secondary feeding hyperparathyroidism in cats treatment and prognosis

Treatment of secondary feeding hyperparathyroidism in cats, in addition to a special diet, includes the introduction of calcium and vitamins, which contribute to its better absorption.

With untimely access to doctors, sick animals have problems with the musculoskeletal system, up to pathological fractures.

Nutritional Hyperparathyroidism in Kittens Medications, Diet

Nutritional hyperparathyroidism in kittens occurs when there is a lack of calcium in the diet, when animals are fed only meat. Ready-made specially designed feeds, which include mineral supplements that favor the formation and development of the skeleton of young animals, help to correct the imbalance in nutrition.

Of the drugs, traumatin and chondortron can be prescribed.

Hyperparathyroidism in cats with chronic renal failure (chronic renal failure)

Cats with chronic renal failure may develop secondary hyperparathyroidism when there is a decrease in renal calcitriol synthesis, although at first glance it seems that there is no connection between the two such different diseases.

Treatment of a sick cat is based on reducing the intake of phosphorus in her body and allows the animal to prolong life.

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Hyperparathyroidism in cats is a brittle bone disease associated with a lack of calcium in the blood. This disease, which is quite common in veterinary practice, manifests itself in muscle weakness, frequent urination and skeletal deformity in kittens and adults.

What is alimentaryhyperparathyroidism

The development of the disease is due to increased production of hormones by the parathyroid glands. This phenomenon, in turn, is associated with an unbalanced diet, in particular, a calcium deficiency and an excess of phosphorus in the cat's diet.

Ideally, the amount of calcium and phosphorus in the cat's menu should be approximately the same and correspond to the following formula: Ca: P = 1: 1.

Unfortunately, the nutrition of animals does not always correspond to the norm, very often it contains a lot of phosphorus and not enough calcium. How can this threaten the health of the cat? An excess of phosphorus makes it difficult for calcium to be absorbed from the intestines. Such a metabolic disorder contributes to a decrease in the calcium content in the blood serum.

Prolonged hypocalcemia leads to the fact that the skeleton of the animal becomes weak: the bones grow poorly, the bone tissue is eroded and partially replaced by fibrous tissue.

Symptomshyperparathyroidismin cats

The disease often develops in cats at an early age. The kitten begins to feel pain and discomfort, the behavior of the animal also changes - it becomes lethargic, apathetic, stops playing and moves little. Sometimes it can show aggression - hiss or even bite so that a person cannot touch it.

However, the most striking symptom of the disease is lameness, resulting from pain in the bones and muscles. The bones of the cat become soft, brittle, this leads to numerous fractures and microfractures of the limbs and vertebrae, since babies are prone to play and pranks.

Diagnosis and treatment of the disease

The only way to accurately determine hyperparathyroidism in cats is with an x-ray. Tests are not enough, since the level of calcium in the urine will be low, and in the blood - normal. With the help of an x-ray, it will be possible not only to assess the degree of bone deformity, but also to see overgrown and pathological fractures that were not noticed before. In adult cats, malunion fractures can be detected in this way.

The sooner you start treating a dangerous disease, the higher the chance for a successful recovery.

The basis of treatment is the correction of nutrition. Vitamin feeding is not enough, a complete transfer of the kitten to a special high-quality food from well-known manufacturers is necessary. As a rule, after a month the skeletal system of the animal returns to normal.