Electrolytes

Question 1

What regulates sodium?

Answer 1

anti-diuretic hormone and thirst

Question 2

Causes of hypercalcemia

Answer 2

HARDIONS-G
hyperparathyroidsm
Addison’s Disease (hypoadrenocorticism)
Rental Disease
Vitamin D toxicity (generally from rodenticide toxicity or ingestion of calcium supplements or certain dermatological creams)
idiopathic hypercalcemia in felines
osteolytic disease
neoplasia
spurious
granulomatous disease

Question 3

clinical signs of hypercalcemia

Answer 3

PU/PD because of alterations in anti-diuretic hormone causing nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
anorexia
weakness
lethargy
seizures

Question 4

Clinical signs of hypernatremia

Answer 4

CNS/nonspecific
leathargy
weakness
behavioral or postural changes
ataxia
seizures
altered level of consciousness
coma
death

Question 5

Consequence of rapid fluid correction with chronic hypernatremia

Answer 5

Hypernatremia of greater than a few hours can cause cellular dehydration as fluid shifts from intracellular fluid to extracellular fluid
Body will compensate by creating idiogenic osmoles to restore osmolality in intracellular space (full compensation within 24 hours).
rapid correction with idiogenic osmoles will create a hyperosmolar ICF compared to ECF
Fluid will want to move from ECF back into cells resulting in rapid cellular swellling, cerebral edema and life-threatening neurological dysfunction.

Question 6

What are monitoring parameters when correcting hypernatremia?

Answer 6

changes in mentations
level of consciousness
pupil size
seizures
changes in breathing pattern
Extreme cases: Cushing’s Reflex

Question 7

What can occur with rapid correction of hyponatremia?

Answer 7

Central pontine myelinolysis, effects can be permanent.