Hypocalcemia is a common dog disease, which is characterized by a significant decrease in the level of calcium in the blood, causing many diseases, such as Pancreatitis, kidney failure, blood clotting, weak bones, or other health problems; From the loss of the dog’s ability to control his muscles or his exposure to cramps or frequent vomiting, in addition to his high temperature, the dog’s loss of appetite, and lethargy in general. It is worth noting that the seriousness of calcium deficiency in dogs ranges in severity; Therefore, it is important to visit a veterinarian as soon as one of its symptoms appears. In this article, we will mention the most important causes of calcium deficiency in dogs, and how to treat it.
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Causes of calcium deficiency in dogs
At the bottom of the dog’s throat, there are two small glands, their function is to maintain the level of calcium in his blood, by releasing a specific hormone that returns the calcium level to normal, when the body sends a signal of its deficiency, so any defect in the dog’s glands responsible for regulating calcium will cause the dog to become unbalanced. His calcium levels and there are many other causes of calcium deficiency in dogs, including:
- Kidney disease; The most common is kidney failure.
- Rhabdomyolysis or muscle degeneration (rhabdomyolysis); is represented by the weakness of the dog’s muscle tissue and its breakdown in his blood, which leads to a decrease in the percentage of calcium.
- Ethylene glycol intoxication; It is a chemical that causes poisoning in dogs when they eat it, and contributes to a decrease in calcium levels in their blood.
- Lack of calcium in the dog’s bones.
- Hypoalbuminemia is a protein that is formed in the liver and circulates in the blood. A deficiency in this protein will inevitably cause a deficiency in calcium levels in the dog.
- Puerperal tetany, which is low calcium levels in nursing dogs or their newborns.
- Trauma to soft tissue; It is damage to the dog’s muscles, tendons, or ligaments.
- Poor digestive absorption of calcium.
- High levels of calcium loss in dog urine.
- pancreatitis.
- Blood poisoning.
- Rickets.
- Tetanus.
- Milk fever.
- Gastritis.
- Hypothyroidism.
Treating calcium deficiency in dogs
The cause of calcium deficiency in dogs depends on the cause and how bad the dog’s condition is. In cases of severe calcium deficiency in the dog, the veterinarian may provide him with calcium-rich fluids intravenously. However, in cases of reasonable calcium deficiency, the veterinarian often administers medications through the blood. Of calcium and vitamin D, which helps in its absorption, with the need to monitor the dog’s condition and ensure that calcium levels return to normal, without decrease or increase.
The veterinarian may treat the dog’s calcium deficiency with some medications that control the glands responsible for calcium levels in his blood, in addition to recommending that the dog be given calcium nutritional supplements for dogs that previously suffered from a lack of calcium in the blood, to avoid its relapse again, and to maintain calcium levels in his blood.
