Tag: Electrolytes

In animals and humans, phosphorus plays a crucial role in the synthesis of several compounds that are vital for maintaining cellular membrane integrity, energy stores, metabolic processes, and biochemical messenger systems. These compounds include ATP, guanosine triphosphate, cyclic adenosine monophosphate, and phosphocreatine (Yanagawa et al. 1994; DiBartola et al. 2012). Phosphate is a molecular anion that contains phosphorus. Approximately 80-85% of phosphate resides in the bone and teeth as inorganic hydroxyapatite, 14-15% in soft tissues, and less than 1% in the extracellular space (Yanagawa et al. 1994; DiBartola et al. 2012). The body and plasma contain both organic and inorganic phosphates, though blood chemistry analyzers measure only inorganic phosphates.

Hyperkalemia in dogs and cats can be treated with a wide variety of methods in an emergency veterinary setting. These methods may include intravenous isotonic crystalloid fluid therapy, insulin with dextrose, sodium bicarbonate, adrenergic receptor agonists (e.g. albuterol or terbutaline) and, ultimately, treatment of the underlying condition (e.g. relief of the urethral obstruction). 

Hypoadrenocorticism (i.e., Addison’s disease)  is an important differential for hypercalcemia. The etiology of hypercalcemia in hypoadrenocorticism in dogs is unclear. Hall et. al (JVIM 2023) wanted to find out the prevalence and factors associated with hypercalcemia in this population of dogs by performing a multicenter retrospective observational study at the 4 UK referral hospitals. They analyzed data from 110 dogs and found that about 34.5% of the dogs with Addison’s had either total and/or ionized hypercalcemia. The odds of hypercalcemia were increased (P < .05) in dogs with classic Addison’s (deficient in both mineralo- and glucocorticoids), higher serum creatinine, and higher serum albumin. The odds of ionized hypercalcemia were increased (P < .05) with reduced serum potassium concentration and younger age.