Hypocalcaemia in pancreatitis cats

RE: Hypocalcaemia in pancreatitis cats

KathW — Sun, 02 Apr 2017 23:02:09 GMT

Thanks Anthony. Best wishes for your results.

RE: Hypocalcaemia in pancreatitis cats

Anthony Dennison — Sun, 02 Apr 2017 16:52:51 GMT

It was an hour long, 30 minutes case discussion, 30 minutes 'practical' (photos of X-rays, ecgs, photos of eyes). I was given 2 cases to look at before I went in, had to formulate a problem list and differentials and then discuss the work up with them.

RE: Hypocalcaemia in pancreatitis cats

KathW — Sat, 01 Apr 2017 07:49:46 GMT

May I ask what the format of the exam was and how long it was Anthony?

I' m due to finish the medicine modules with Liverpool this autumn and am thinking of doing the exam with them next Spring.

RE: Hypocalcaemia in pancreatitis cats

Anthony Dennison — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 13:34:04 GMT

[quote user="David Mills"]

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]

Can also be due to fat saponification apparently.

[/quote]

How'd the exam go?

[/quote] Well I answered all the questions asked, think my problem lists and differentials were sound. Practical questions were ok, just hard to know whether I answered the way they wanted! Don't get results until next week.

RE: Hypocalcaemia in pancreatitis cats

David Mills — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 00:43:38 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]

Can also be due to fat saponification apparently.

[/quote]

How'd the exam go?

RE: Hypocalcaemia in pancreatitis cats

Anthony Dennison — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 23:52:17 GMT

Can also be due to fat saponification apparently.

RE: Hypocalcaemia in pancreatitis cats

Kate Richardson — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 21:47:02 GMT

I see mild hypocalcaemia quite often in cats with either definite or suspect pancreatitis!

RE: Hypocalcaemia in pancreatitis cats

Sarah Keir — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 16:59:02 GMT

Never seen hypocalcaemia associated with pancreatitis in CATs but have in dogs.

RE: Hypocalcaemia in pancreatitis cats

Anthony Dennison — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 19:17:46 GMT

What a coincidence, I've just revised this for my exam tomorrow! Hypocalcaemia in pancreatitis is 'redistributive hypocalcaemia'. Usually due to lowered Albumin, but ionised calcium remains normal. It's usually very mild and transient, nothing to be concerned about unless there are clinical signs. 'Therapy is not recommended in cases of hypoalbuminaemia, CRF or other conditions where ionised calcium is likely to be normal'

RE: Hypocalcaemia in pancreatitis cats

Miriam Lodewyks — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 18:26:13 GMT

Could the hypocalcaemia be related to Albumin levels?

I can't say I've ever seen this, but will look out for it in future. Thanks!

RE: Hypocalcaemia in pancreatitis cats

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 14:54:48 GMT

I can't say I remember a hypocalcaemic cat with pancreatitis but I would ask if you think it is symptomatic due to hypocalcaemia or whether you're just playing a numbers game in which case it may be fine just to let it recover by itself - the second sentence in your post speaks volumes. What is the actual figure and I wonder if its worth doing ionic calcium.