title: Preparturient hypocalcemia in four cats.
abstract: Preparturient hypocalcemia was identified in 4 cats in a specific pathogen-free colony between 1995 and 1996. All cats had an acute onset of clinical signs, 3 to 17 days prior to parturition. Signs of depression, weakness, tachypnea, and mild muscle tremors were the most common clinical signs, following by vomiting and anorexia. Additional abnormalities included hypothermia, third eyelid prolapse, dehydration, pallor, lethargy, flaccid paralysis, and hyperexcitability. Hematologic abnormalities included leukocytosis with neutrophilia and lymphopenia. Hypocalcemia was documented in each queen. Common serum biochemical abnormalities included high aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase activities. All cats responded to IV or SC administration of 10% calcium gluconate. Queens were then given calcium orally prior to and following parturition. The queens did not have additional complications for the duration of the gestational or lactational periods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fascetti
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hickman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002125:Calcium Gluconate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
chemical_list: D002125:Calcium Gluconate