Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Lactulose treatment and calcium levels in dogs with liver
By Hawes, Connor E & Duplan, Florent·Published in The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne·2024·School of Veterinary Science, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Association between lactulose administration and hypercalcemia in dogs medically managed for hepatic encephalopathy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 17 dogs with a liver condition called hepatic encephalopathy, caused by a portosystemic shunt, were treated with lactulose, a medication often used to help manage this issue. The vets measured their calcium levels before starting the treatment and again after more than three weeks. They found that the lactulose did not cause high calcium levels (hypercalcemia) in these dogs. While there was some indication that higher doses of lactulose might affect calcium levels, it wasn't significant enough to raise concerns.
People also search for: dog liver disease treatment · lactulose for dogs · high calcium levels in dogs · hepatic encephalopathy in dogs · portosystemic shunt in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Identify if lactulose administration is associated with hypercalcemia in dogs medically managed for hepatic encephalopathy due to a portosystemic shunt and measure any magnitude in change of ionized calcium (iCa) or total calcium. ANIMALS: Seventeen client-owned dogs diagnosed with a portosystemic shunt and medically managed with lactulose. PROCEDURE: Total calcium and iCa were measured at Time point 1 (T1), before starting medical management; and Time point 2 (T2), the time of a reassessment after > 3 wk of lactulose administration. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in iCa or total calcium between T1 and T2. Lactulose dose was positively correlated with change in iCa between T1 and T2. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study did not identify the development of hypercalcemia in a population of dogs treated with lactulose for the management of hepatic encephalopathy. A possible correlation was present between dose of lactulose and change in iCa, and this may represent a dose-dependent association.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39649742/