Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Puppy with seizures and bone loss from homemade diet deficiencies
By Hutchinson, Dana et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2012·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Seizures and severe nutrient deficiencies in a puppy fed a homemade diet.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 8-month-old male Saint Bernard had seizures and high body temperature due to a homemade diet that lacked essential nutrients. The puppy showed signs of pain in his shoulders and had low levels of calcium and other important nutrients in his blood. After switching to a balanced diet designed for growing dogs and treating his deficiencies, the puppy improved significantly. His nutrient levels returned to normal, and he no longer experienced seizures or other symptoms related to his previous diet.
People also search for: puppy seizures treatment · Saint Bernard diet · homemade dog food deficiencies · nutrient deficiencies in puppies · balanced diet for growing dogs
Abstract
CASE DESCRIPTION: An 8-month-old male Saint Bernard developed tetanic seizures and hyperthermia during evaluation of bilateral osteochondritis dissecans of the shoulder joints. Further investigation revealed that the dog was receiving an unbalanced homemade diet. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Preliminary evaluation of the dog revealed bilateral signs of pain and mild muscle wasting in the shoulder joint areas. Serum biochemical analysis revealed severe hypocalcemia, hyponatremia, hypochloremia, hyperphosphatemia, vitamin D deficiency, and taurine deficiency. Diffuse osteopenia was identified on radiographs of the mandible and long bones, confirming bone demineralization. Analysis of the homemade diet revealed that the dog's diet was severely deficient in a variety of nutrients. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: The dog responded positively to treatment for hypocalcemia, hyperthermia, and seizures. The dog's diet was changed to a complete and balanced canine diet formulated for growth. Body weight and body condition were monitored, and dietary intake was adjusted to achieve optimal body condition during growth. After initial evaluation, serial monitoring of serum calcium and taurine concentrations revealed that values were within reference limits and the dog had no further clinical signs associated with dietary deficiency. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings in this puppy highlight the risks associated with feeding an unbalanced homemade diet during growth and the importance of obtaining a thorough dietary history from all patients. For owners who elect to feed a homemade diet, it is critical to have the homemade diet carefully formulated by a veterinary nutritionist to avoid severe nutrient imbalances, especially in young, growing dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22852574/