• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Upcoming dvm360 Conferences
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
Veterinary Heroes
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Journal Scan: A look at laboratory parameter changes in growing cats

February 19, 2014
Jennifer L. Garcia, DVM, DACVIM

The goal of this study was to evaluate how changes in mineral metabolism affect laboratory parameters in growing cats.

Why they did it

Little information in the veterinary literature exists about changes in mineral metabolism that affect laboratory parameters in growing cats.

What they did

The authors of this study evaluated changes in laboratory parameters for calcium (total and ionized), phosphorus, magnesium, whole and intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitriol (vitamin D), and calcidiol (a precursor to calcitriol) in 14 young cats. The European shorthaired cats had blood samples drawn every three months from age 3 to 15 months. The cats were housed in an animal care facility and were fed a commercial kitten diet throughout the study period.

What they found

Calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium concentrations all decreased with age. Phosphorus concentrations decreased at 12 months and were at their lowest by 15 months (5.3 mg/dl ± 0.1), while magnesium concentrations did not demonstrate a decrease until 15 months of age (2.7 mg/dl ± 0.1). Albumin concentrations were below normal at 3 months of age but were then stable throughout the study period.

Advertisement

The ratio of whole (biologically active) PTH to intact PTH declined progressively throughout the 12-month sampling period. Calcitriol concentrations declined beginning at 9 months of age and continued to decrease until 15 months, while calcidiol concentrations climbed between the 3- and 15-month sampling times. The authors propose that these changes are likely a result of changes in demand for calcium and vitamin D during the decline in the rate of skeletal growth.

Take-home message

Blood parameters related to mineral metabolism change throughout the growing process, and these values appear to stabilize by or shortly after 1 year of age. Age-related changes in vitamin D concentrations are particularly important when attempting to formulate a diagnosis in a patient suspected of having vitamin D-dependent rickets and highlight the need for age-specific laboratory parameters for analytes relating to mineral metabolism.

Pineda C, Aguilera-Tejero E, Guerrero F, et al. Mineral metabolism in growing cats: changes in the values of blood parameters with age. J Feline Med Surg 2013;15:866-871.

Link to abstract: http://jfm.sagepub.com/content/15/10/866.abstract

Related Content:

ClinicalFeline MedicineFeline MedicineFeline Medicine
Veterinary Dentistry Specialists first to apply human fracture repair technology to companion animals
Veterinary Dentistry Specialists first to apply human fracture repair technology to companion animals
Merck Manuals recognizes importance of One Health concept
Merck Manuals recognizes importance of One Health concept
Newly funded study on chronic hepatitis in Doberman Pinschers
Newly funded study on chronic hepatitis in Doberman Pinschers

Advertisement

Latest News

Pet safety for this Super Bowl Sunday

New video series informs pet owners on dog and cat nutrition

3 Must-reads for National Pet Dental Health Month

Veterinary Dentistry Specialists first to apply human fracture repair technology to companion animals

View More Latest News
Advertisement