Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with weakness and unusual heart signs from low calcium
By Aroch, I et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·1998·Department of Clinical Science·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Paresis and unusual electrocardiographic signs in a severely hypomagnesaemic, hypocalcaemic lactating bitch.
Plain-English summary
A lactating dog was brought in with severe weakness, difficulty breathing, and problems with her bladder and intestines. Tests showed that her calcium and magnesium levels were extremely low, which caused her muscles to not work properly. Unlike typical cases of lactation issues in dogs, she showed signs more similar to a condition seen in cows after giving birth. After treatment to correct her calcium and magnesium levels, her condition improved, and she began to recover.
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Abstract
A severely hypocalcaemic, hypomagnesaemic lactating bitch exhibited clinical signs of pulmonary oedema, paresis, dementia, gastrointestinal ileus and urinary bladder atony. The total calcium, ionised calcium and magnesium levels were extremely low. The clinical picture was very different from the one typically encountered in canine lactation tetany, and instead resembled bovine postparturient paresis. Muscle tremors, rigidity and seizures were not part of the acute clinical picture, but rather atony, weakness and paresis. General muscle dysfunction probably resulted from the extremely low ionised calcium levels in combination with very low levels of magnesium and possibly potassium. Heart failure and atony of the urinary bladder and intestines were probably a result of the severe hypocalcaemia. The alteration in calcium to magnesium ratio may have depressed neuromuscular transmission, leading to paresis and atony. The unusual electrocardiogram possibly also resulted from abnormal magnesium and calcium cation levels.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9673908/