title: Vitamin D intoxication caused by ingestion of commercial cat food in three kittens.
abstract: Two siblings, a 6-month-old sexually intact male weighing 2.5 kg (cat 1) and a sexually intact female (cat 2) British Shorthair cat weighing 2.3 kg, were examined because of a 3-week history of polyuria, lethargy and laboured breathing. One year previously, another sibling (cat 3) had been presented because of similar, yet more severe, clinical signs at the age of 5 months. Physical examination revealed lethargy, dehydration and polypnoea with slightly increased inspiratory effort. Diagnostic investigation revealed severe hypercalcaemia (cats 1-3), renal azotaemia (cats 1 and 3) and a radiologically generalised miliary interstitial pattern of the lungs (cats 1-3) attributable to hypervitaminosis D caused by ingestion of commercial cat food. Cat 3 was euthanased. Cats 1 and 2 were treated with isotonic saline solution (180 ml/kg IV daily), sucralfate (30 mg/kg PO q12h), terbutaline (only cat 1: 0.1 mg/kg SC q4h), furosemide (1.5 mg/kg IV q8h) and tapering doses of prednisolone. Cat 2 was normal on day 14. Cat 1 had stable renal disease and was followed up to day 672. The radiological generalised military interstitial pattern of the lungs had improved markedly. Excessive cholecalciferol-containing commercially available cat food poses a great hazard to cats. Supportive treatment may result in long-term survival and improvement of radiological pulmonary abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Maximilian University, Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Munich, Germany. a.wehner@medizinische-kleintierklinik.de
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wehner
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Katzenberger
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Groth
authors.forename: Roswitha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dorsch
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koelle
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002415:Cats; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D002762:Cholecalciferol