Introduction
- Rare.
- Cause : poisoning with vitamin D3 rodenticide or ingestion of poisoned wild life. Ingestion of human medications containing vitamin D which are prescribed for a variety of conditions including hypoparathyroidism, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, renal failure, psoriasis, and to prevent recurrence of cancer. Oversupplemetation with Vitamin D via the diet can also cause toxicosis, and suckling puppies are particularly susceptible if the dam is oversupplemented.
- Signs : anorexia, vomiting.
- Diagnosis : signs, hypercalcemia, polydipsia.
- Treatment : detoxification, calcitonin, pamidronate, fluid diuresis, corticosteroids.
- Prognosis : guarded to poor.
Diagnosis
Clinical signs
- As listed previously.
Diagnosis
Differential diagnosis
- Other causes of hypercalcemia
such as neoplasia (particularly lymphoma or anal sac apocrine gland adenocarcinoma), hyperparathyroidism, acute or chronic renal failure, pheochromocytoma, hypoadrenocorticoidism. - Other causes of polydipsia.
Sequelae
Prognosis
- Generally guarded. Prognosis is good if treatment is intiated prior to onset of hypercalcemia and calcification of soft tissues, but animals are often presented too late.
- Animals often deteriorate rapidly and may be dead within a few days.
- Prognosis is grave if hematemesis is present.
- If aggressive and prolonged (2-4 weeks) treament is given animals may survive.
- Kidneys, lungs and/or heart may be permanently damaged by mineralization.
Expected response to treatment
- Calcium levels should fall within hours of effective treatment.
Reasons for treatment failure
- Animal is presented too late in the course of toxicosis.
- Severe renal disease prior to treatment.
Sources
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed.
- Durtnell R E (1999) Canine vitamin D Toxicosis. JSAP 40 (11), 550.
- Gunther R, Felice L J, Nelson R K & Fransom A M (1988) Toxicity of vitamin D3 rodenticide to dogs. JAVMA 193 , 211-214.
- Fan T M, Simpson K W, Trasti S & Birnbaum N (1998) Calcipotriol toxicity in a dog. JSAP 39 (12), 581-586.
Other sources of information
- Rumbeiha W K (2006) Cholecalciferol. In: Small Animal Toxicology. 2nd edition. Editors M E Peterson and P A Talcott. Elsevier Inc., St Louis, MO. pp 629-642.
- Bahri L E (1990) Poisoning in dogs by vitamin D3-containing rodenticides. Comp Cont Ed Pract Vet 12 , 1414-1417.
