title: Diagnosis and management of hypoaldosteronism without hypoadrenocorticism in an alpaca.
abstract: METHODS
  Primary hypoaldosteronism without concurrent hypoadrenocorticism was diagnosed in an 8-year-old female alpaca with acute onset of weakness progressing to recumbency within 6 hours after onset.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hematologic testing at admission revealed profound hyponatremia, hypochloremia, and acidemia with a normal blood potassium concentration. Further diagnostic testing, including an ACTH stimulation test, led to a diagnosis of hypoaldosteronism in conjunction with normal cortisol production.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The hembra responded well to i.v. polyionic fluid therapy with sodium supplementation and was managed successfully long term with free access to saline (0.9% NaCl) solution in addition to water ad libitum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of hypoaldosteronism in an alpaca. Hypoaldosteronism should be considered in alpacas as a possible differential diagnosis for refractory hyponatremia or for hyponatremia in which an underlying etiology is not determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Butterworth
authors.forename: Alessandra M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pellegrini-Masini
authors.forename: Michelle H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Barton
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D002161:Camelids, New World; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D006994:Hypoaldosteronism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride; D000450:Aldosterone