Feline Hypocalcemia

Feline Hypocalcemia is defined as low levels of calcium in a cat's blood. Calcium is a naturally occurring mineral largely important to the bone structure of a mammal's body. It is also important as an element within the blood. Hypocalcemia is an abnormally low level of calcium and can occur in cats and dogs. Either too much or too little calcium in the blood can cause health problems for cats. Normally the cat's body regulates the calcium levels through a number of functions. If these fail the cat may suffer from too little calcium in the blood.

  1. Calcium in the Body

    • According to the website cat-world.com about 99 percent of the calcium in the cat's body is located in the bones and teeth. The remaining 1 percent is found in the cells with the bulk in the blood stream. About 50 percent of the blood stream calcium circulates freely in the blood while most of the rest circulates in the blood protein albumin.

    Calcium Control

    • The process of absorption of calcium in the cat's body is controlled by the parathyroid hormone and calcitriol, also known as Vitamin D. Vitamin D improves the absorption of dietary calcium though the digestive process and the release of calcium from the bone into the blood stream. If these substances are absent, or produced in excess, the cat can suffer from hypocalcemia or hypercalcemia.

    Symptoms of Hypocalcemia

    • Cats with hypocalcemia will usually be restless and possibly have facial or whisker twitches. Other symptoms include fever, heavy breathing and an overall lack of activity. Convulsions occur in some severe cases.

    Diagnosis

    • Veterinarians perform blood tests, as part of a complete physical, to determine the level of blood serum calcium. The blood tests may also indicate the cause of the hypocalcemia if it indicates abnormal parathyroid hormones or possible kidney failure.

    Treatment

    • Urgent care treatment of hypocalcemia involves intravenous calcium gluconate. This is a short term treatment that increases the level of calcium in the blood but doesn't address the cause of the low level of calcium in the blood. Long term treatments can include Vitamin D to improve the absorption of dietary calcium and oral calcium gluconate to serve as a continual calcium supplement.