Pathological Conditions Of Calcium In Horses

Question 1

5 Hypocalcemic disorders of horses:

Answer 1

Hypoparathyroidism

Acute renal failure

Hypovitaminosis D

Sepsis (GI Dz, SIRS, foal sepsis)

Acid-base disorders

Question 2

4 hypercalcemic disorders of horses:

Answer 2

Hyperparathyroidism

Chronic renal failure

Hypervitaminosis D

Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy

Question 3

Any condition that causes inflammation can cause ________ in horses

Answer 3

Hypocalcemia

Question 4

3 key lab findings in a horse with primary hypoparathyroidism?

Answer 4

Decreased or “normal” PTH

Decreased calcium

Increased phosphorus

Question 5

Hypocalcemic disorders in horses tend to be

Answer 5

Acute

Question 6

Hypercalcemic disorders in horses tend to be

Answer 6

Chronic

Question 7

Secondary hypoparathyroidism in horses is due to

Answer 7

Sepsis, septicemia

Low magnesium

Question 8

3 lab findings in a horses with secondary hypoparathyroidism

Answer 8

Decreased PTH

Decreased calcium

Increased phosphorus

Question 9

Signs of hypocalcemia in a horse:

1. Muscle fasciculations
2. _________
3. Ataxia
4. Arrythmias
5. _______, colic
6. Decreased ______ _______ ________
7. Hyperexcitability

Answer 9

Seizures

Ileus

Smooth muscle contractions

Question 10

Synchronous diaphragmatic flutter is a clinical signs of

Answer 10

hypocalcemia

Question 11

Synchronous diaphragmatic flutter is due the firing of the ____ nerve in synchrony with atrial depolarization, which makes the ________ contract with each heartbeat.

Answer 11

Phrenic

Diaphragm

Question 12

Synchronous diaphragmatic flutter occurs in states of ________ with low _______ and low ________

Answer 12

Alkalosis
Calcium and magnesium

Question 13

5 reasons that critically ill horses and foals develop hypocalcemia

Answer 13

1. Impaired parathyroid gland dysfunction from cytokines
2. Calcium loss in the intestine
3. Intracellular sequestration of calcium
4. Hypomagenesemia
5. Hypovitaminosis D

Question 14

Why do horses with duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (DPJ) develop hypocalcemia?

Answer 14

Loss of chloride leads to alkalosis

In alkaline pH, calcium binding to albumin will be increased and there will be a decrease in serum calcium

Question 15

C- cell adenomas are mainly _____ ______

Some are _____ and secrete ______

Answer 15

Non-functional

Functional, calcitonin

Question 16

C-cell adenomas of the horse thyroid gland are normally an ______ issue and aren’t removed unless they cause throat compression

Answer 16

Esthetic

Question 17

In horses with CKD, phosphorus is normally

Answer 17

Low
(Hypophosphatemia)

Question 18

Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism in horses is due to

Answer 18

Increased phosphorus and oxalates in diet
Low calcium diet

Question 19

2 causes of hypervitaminosis D in horses

Answer 19

Iatrogenic

Toxic plants with vitamin D like compounds

Question 20

What is the treatment and prognosis for Vitamin D toxicity in horses?

Answer 20

Steroids, palliative care

Very poor prognosis

Question 21

Clinical signs of vitamin D toxicity in horses?

Answer 21

Weight loss, soft tissue mineralization (heart, blood vessels, other vital organs)

Organ failure