Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Severe high calcium in dog with retained fetus and uterine infection
By Hirt, R A et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2000·Clinic of Internal Medicine for Small Animals and Horses·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Severe hypercalcemia in a dog with a retained fetus and endometritis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 10-month-old female German Shorthaired Pointer was brought to the vet because she was lethargic, had a fever, wasn't eating, and was vomiting. Tests revealed she had very high calcium levels due to a severe infection in her uterus (endometritis) and a retained fetus. Despite trying fluids, diuretics, and calcitonin to lower her calcium, nothing worked until she had surgery to remove her uterus and ovaries (ovariohysterectomy). After the surgery, her calcium levels returned to normal within four days, and she started to recover.
People also search for: dog vomiting and lethargy · German Shorthaired Pointer fever treatment · high calcium in dogs causes
Abstract
A 10-month-old sexually intact female German Shorthaired Pointer examined because of lethargy, episodes of fever, inappetence, and vomiting was found to have severe hypercalcemia. Results of laboratory testing, radiography, and ultrasonography excluded previously recognized causes of hypercalcemia in dogs. Instead, the dog was found to have purulent endometritis and an incompletely resorbed fetus. Treatment with fluids i.v., diuretics, and calcitonin failed to adequately reduce serum calcium concentration, but serum calcium concentration was normal within 4 days after the dog underwent an ovariohysterectomy. Retention of one or more fetuses and endometritis should be included in the differential diagnosis for dogs with hypercalcemia.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10800513/