Lecture 11: Minerals

Question 1

Describe pathogenesis and treatment of common macromineral disorders: HYPOCALCEMIA

Answer 1

occurs when Ca intake does not meet requirement of fetus development and colostrum production
- Ca cannot be mobilized quickly enough from storage – High Ca prepartum diet down regulates mobilization
OR - hyperkalemia (inc. K+ intake) raises systemic pH (alkalosis) making PTH receptors less receptive to PTH

Question 2

What is hypocalcemia in the Dairy Cow, Ewe and Doe?

Answer 2

Milk fever (periparturient paresis)
- rarely occur in young cows
Tx: Borogluconate (IV, oral) – it’s Calcium salt

Question 3

What is hypocalcemia in the Mare?

Answer 3

Transport Tetany

Question 4

What is hypocalcemia in the Bitch and Queen?

Answer 4

Eclampsia: occurs during peak lactation
DOGS: TOY breeds and Young Bitches
- Tx: Ca++ (IV), remove or wean pups, evaluate Diet
CATS: Poor diet, excessive Ca++ supplementation
- Tx: Ca++ (oral and/or IV) and Dextrose
Cs: excited, tetanic, hot, down, cold, flaccid, paralytic, dead

Question 5

Which species exhibit TETANY from HYPOCALCEMIA?

Answer 5

HORSES and DOGS

Ca++ stays in the muscle inciting contraction.

Question 6

Describe pathogenesis and treatment of common macromineral disorders: Nutritional Seconday Hyperparathyroidism (Chronic low blood Ca++)

Answer 6

Young, growing animals and reptiles with meat or organ tissue diet (High P and Low Ca available in diet)

• Need to differentiate inadequate Vit D or Ca in diet
• Pathogenesis: ingestion of excessive P –> hyperphosphatemia –> inc. PTH secretion –> bone resrobed to released Ca –> demineralization
• Cs: Pathologic fracture, lameness, paralysis (sm. animal); lameness, fractures (LA)
• Tx: Adjust diet more Ca less P (limestone most common source of Ca)

Question 7

Describe pathogenesis and treatment of common macromineral disorders: Hypomagnesemia

Answer 7

GRASS Tetany: from SPRING pasture vegetation and or lactation
- Belligerent, ataxic, tremors, salivation, seizures, down

WINTER Tetany: cow in later winter with no Mg supplementation
- Down and cannot rise
Dx with Cs and Mg

Question 8

Describe conditions for uroliths to form and those which aid in urolith formation

Answer 8

• Uroliths form when insufficient water and too much solute in body
• Alkaline pH = Struvite formation
• Acidic pH = Stones (urate or oxalate)
• Require a NIDUS = usuually cellular debris from UTI or mucosal debris from inadequate Vit A

Question 9

Describe management and physiologic rationale associated with management of the most prevalent types of uroliths in SMALL animals.

Answer 9

Urine acidifying diets (commercial) help to dissolve STRUVITEs and prevent future formation

Increase water intake!

Question 10

Describe management and physiologic rationale associated with management of the most prevalent types of uroliths in LARGE animals.

Answer 10

Surgery to treat and Ca:P dietary management for prevention

• HORSE has STONES so keep on low Ca:P diet
• RUMINANT have STRUVITES so keep on high Ca:P diet

Increase water intake by adding salt to diet and cleaning water trough