Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Managing low calcium in a dog after thyroid and parathyroid surgery
By Alessio Ruggiero et al.·Published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science·2026·Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Case Report: long-term calcaemia management in a dog after thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A dog developed severe low calcium levels after surgery to remove a thyroid tumor and nearby parathyroid glands. To stabilize the dog, the veterinarian first gave intravenous calcium and then switched to a special diet that included both commercial and homemade options, ensuring the dog received enough calcium and vitamin D. The dog also received daily supplements of calcium carbonate and calcitriol to keep calcium levels normal. Over six months, the dog's calcium levels remained stable, and it continued to do well on the tailored diet.
People also search for: dog low calcium after thyroid surgery · dog diet for hypocalcemia · calcium supplements for dogs
Abstract
This report describes a canine case of severe hypocalcaemia following the surgical removal of a thyroid lobe and the ipsilateral parathyroid glands for thyroid carcinoma. After initial stabilisation with intravenous calcium gluconate, the dog was initially managed with a commercial diet, and subsequently with a homemade diet, which provided 3.72 and 3.30 g/1,000 kcal ME of calcium, 376 and 295 IU of vitamin D3, and 2.48 and 1.50 g/1,000 kcal metabolisable energy (ME) of phosphorus, respectively. Both nutritional plans were supplemented with calcium carbonate (200 mg/day) and calcitriol (9.84 IU/day) to maintain normocalcaemia. A tailored, homemade diet was formulated to address the onset of hyporexia. The patient maintained stable serum calcium, phosphorus, and total 25(OH) vitamin D concentrations over a mid-term follow-up period of 6 months.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1663570