| Material | Serum or heparin plasma 0.5 ml;
Reptiles: heparin plasma or serum 0.2 ml |
| Method | Photometry |
| Duration | Reporting of results on the day the sample is received (Mon–Sat) |
| Remark | - Hypercalcaemia occurs in neoplasms (especially lymphomas, anal sac carcinomas in dogs), hyperparathyroidism, hypoadrenocorticism (Addison’s disease) and vitamin D intoxication, less frequently in chronic kidney disease (CKD).
- Hypocalcaemia can be caused by hypoalbuminaemia, eclampsia/lactation hypocalcaemia, renal insufficiency, acute pancreatitis and hypoparathyroidism.
- In cats, idiopathic hypercalcaemia is the most common form; it is less common as a secondary condition resulting from CKD or urolithiasis.
- Hypocalcaemia in dogs and cats is usually caused by calcium loss, insufficient intake, impaired vitamin D metabolism or parathyroid hormone deficiency.
- Dog, cat: In case of concurrent hypoalbuminaemia, the calcium concentration should be corrected.
Calculation: Corrected calcium concentration (mg/dl) = serum calcium level (mg/dl) – (0.4 x serum protein (mg/dl)) + 3.3 - Horses have physiologically higher levels; hypocalcaemia can be observed if there is heavy sweating, sepsis, or endotoxaemia.
- Nutritive hypercalcaemia in small mammals is partly due to vitamin D3-independent intestinal absorption.
- Cattle: Hypocalcaemia is the most common cause of parturient paresis in cattle. To differentiate, laboratory diagnostics should be used to clarify hypophosphataemia, hypomagnesaemia, liver metabolism and the so-called “muscle enzymes” (CK, AST).
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