Section: Information In-depth
Several serious medical conditions can result in hypercalcemia. It is important to identify the underlying cause of hypercalcemia in your cat so that effective treatment can be instituted. Disorders that can cause hypercalcemia include:
Lymphosarcoma, a type of cancer
Chronic kidney failure sometimes caused by hereditary kidney disease
Primary hyperparathyroidism, which is overactivity of the parathyroid gland usually due to a benign tumor called an adenoma
Hypoadrenocorticism, also known as Addison's disease, which is a hormonal disorder caused by insufficient production of steroid hormones by the adrenal glands
Apocrine gland adenocarcinoma of anal sac, or a cancer of the glands of the anal sacs
Vitamin D intoxication caused by consumption of vitamin D-containing rat poison
Vitamin D intoxication caused by consumption of vitamin D-containing plants such as day-blooming Jessamine (Cestrum diurnum)
Vitamin D intoxication caused by consumption of topical ointments containing calcipotriene used to treat psoriasis in people
Multiple myeloma, which is a cancer of antibody-producing cells called plasma cells
Other cancers including squamous cell carcinoma, thyroid adenosarcoma, nasal adenocarcinoma, mammary gland adenocarcinoma, and others
Acute kidney failure
Granulomatous diseases, which refer to a specific type of inflammation, such as blastomycosis (fungal infection). In these diseases, inflammatory cells (called macrophages) are thought to produce vitamin D-like chemicals
Osteomyelitis, bacterial infection of bone
Overactivity of the parathyroid glands due to nutritional disturbances
Dehydration with increased blood concentrations of albumin, a major protein of the blood
Hypercalcemia can occur normally in young growing cats
Related Articles
-
1
Chronic Renal (Kidney) Failure in Cats
Chronic kidney failure is a common problem in all cat breeds. When the kidneys fail, they are no longer able to remove waste products, and toxins build up in the blood producing clinical signs of kidney...
» Read More
-
2
Glomerulonephritis in Cats
The kidneys consist of many thousand microscopic filtering units called glomeruli that filter water and small substances from the bloodstream. Glomerulonephritis is inflammation of these microscopic filtering...
» Read More
-
3
Lymphosarcoma (Lymphoma)
Lymphosarcoma (lymphoma) is a malignant cancer that involves the lymphoid system. In a healthy animal, the lymphoid system is an important part of the body’s immune system defense against infectious agents...
» Read More
-
4
Anal Sac Disease in Cats
The anal sacs are glands located near the anus (rectum) and produce secretions normally expressed during defecation. Various diseases including infection, abscess or even tumor can affect these glands....
» Read More
-
5
Acute Renal (Kidney) Failure in Cats
The kidneys filter blood, remove the waste products of metabolism, and eliminate them in the urine. Acute kidney failure (acute renal failure or ARF) is characterized by an abrupt decline in kidney function...
» Read More
