Elevated 25-hydroxy and normal 1,25-dihydroxy cholecalciferol serum concentrations in a successfully-treated case of vitamin D3 toxicosis in a dog.
A 4-y old, 27 kg spayed female German Shepherd dog was observed to ingest one 1-oz package of a rodenticide containing cholecalciferol. An initial serum calcium concentration of 15.7 mg/dl was successfully reduced to normal during 10 d using calcitonin and prednisolone. During that time, the serum 25-hydroxy and 1,25-dihydroxy cholecalciferol concentrations ranged from 637 to 315 ng/ml (normal 32 +/- 6 ng/ml) and 64 to 29 pg/ml (normal 34 +/- 19 pg/ml), respectively. Serum mid-molecule parathyroid hormone concentrations (76 to 97 pcmol/L) were within the normal range (85-140 pcmol/L). These data indicate that hypercalcemia seen in dogs following field exposures to cholecalciferol-containing rodenticides may be associated with elevated 25-hydroxy rather than 1,25-dihydroxy cholecalciferol. Consequently, serum 25-hydroxy cholecalciferol concentrations may be the most conclusive method for diagnosing hypervitaminosis D3 toxicosis in the live dog.
Scheftel
J
J
Watertown Veterinary Clinic, MN 55388.
Setzer
S
S
Walser
M
M
Pertile
T
T
Hegstad
R L
RL
Felice
L J
LJ
Murphy
M J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood* / Q000506:poisoning; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000097:blood* / Q000506:poisoning; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000506:poisoning*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012378:Rodenticides / Q000506:poisoning
D012378:Rodenticides; D002762:Cholecalciferol; C028815:salmon calcitonin; D002116:Calcitonin; D011239:Prednisolone; D002117:Calcitriol; D002112:Calcifediol; D002118:Calcium