Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with high magnesium levels after suspected poisoning
By Griffith, Jackson A et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2025·Michigan State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Hypermagnesemia in a Cat Secondary to Suspected Intoxication.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old female domestic shorthair cat was brought to the vet because she was suddenly very lethargic, cold, and had a slow heart rate. Blood tests showed dangerously high levels of magnesium, which was traced back to a long-term use of a calming supplement that contained magnesium stearate. This led to magnesium poisoning and caused an acute kidney injury. After 10 days of treatment in the hospital, the cat's kidney function and magnesium levels returned to normal, and she was able to go home.
People also search for: cat lethargy · cat magnesium poisoning treatment · cat kidney injury symptoms
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the management of a unique case of hypermagnesemia in a cat. CASE SUMMARY: An 8-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat was presented for acute-onset stupor, hypothermia, and bradycardia. Overtly elevated ionized (>1.5 mmol/L [>3.6 mg/dL]; reference interval: 0.4-0.8 mmol/L [0.9-1.9 mg/dL]) and total magnesium (3.0 mmol/L [7.3 mg/dL]; reference interval: 0.74-1.0 mmol/L [1.8-2.5 mg/dL]) concentrations were identified. A thorough history uncovered the long-term at-home administration of an anxiolytic supplement containing magnesium stearate as an inactive ingredient. No other sources of nondietary magnesium were identified. A diagnosis of magnesium toxicosis was reached. Secondarily, an acute kidney injury developed. After 10 days of hospitalization, the cat was successfully discharged with normalized kidney and electrolyte values. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: Few case reports regarding magnesium toxicosis and its management exist in the veterinary literature. A rare case of hypermagnesemia is presented in this report, highlighting the importance of a complete laboratory workup that includes an evaluation of magnesium levels in previously healthy animals that present with otherwise unexplained clinical signs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40884770/