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Study explores ionized hypercalcaemia in cats
Study provides clear clinical information on causes associated with disrupted calcium concentrations.
RVC study examines associated diagnoses.

A Royal Veterinary College (RVC) study has highlighted the more common diagnoses associated with ionized hypercalcaemia in cats.

The researchers found that the three most likely causes of ionized hypercalcaemia were kidney-related causes, neoplasia (abnormal growths) and idiopathic hypercalcaemia (high blood calcium).

Using the RVC VetCompass programme to collect data, the research team gathered and analysed the largest data set of cats with ionized hypercalcaemia as yet reported in literature to explore the different pathological causes.

In just over half of the 238 cases, a defined pathological cause was identified, these were acute kidney injury (13 per cent), malignancy associated (10.1 per cent), idiopathic hypercalcaemia (10.1 per cent) and chronic kidney disease/renal diet associated (8.4 per cent).

Researchers found a marked variability in total hypercalcaemia by diagnosis, highlighting the importance of ionised calcium measurement if hypercalcaemia is differential for a patient's clinical signs.

The study also explores the prevalence of concurrent urolithiasis, with urolithiasis identified in 83.3 per cent of acute kidney injury associated hypercalcaemia, 72.7 per cent of iatrogenic hypercalcaemia, 61.1 per cent of CKD/renal diet-associated hypercalcaemia and 50 per cent of idiopathic hypercalcaemia cases imaged. 

Given this high proportion of hypercalcaemic cats with concurrent urolithiasis, the research team has suggested that further studies into calcium-based urolith formation are needed.

'Ionized hypercalcaemia in 238 cats from a referral hospital population (2009-2019)' is published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.