BENEFITS OF CALCITRIOL THERAPY AND SERUM PHOSPHORUS CONTROL IN DOGS AND CATS WITH CHRONIC-RENAL-FAILURE - BOTH ARE ESSENTIAL TO PREVENT OR SUPPRESS TOXIC HYPERPARATHYROIDISM

Benefits of calcitriol therapy in uremic dogs and cats are considered by discussing mechanisms underlying the positive responses to a survey relating to this treatment. The survey deals with behavioral changes, anorexia, physical activity, and prolongation of lives of treated dog s and cats. Mechanisms of relief of central nervous system depression, anorexia, depressed energy metabolism, muscular weakness, cardiomyopa thy, osteodystrophy, and nephrocalcinosis are considered, using eviden ce from human, experimental, and veterinary medicine to explain the ob served benefits. Mechanisms by which serum phosphorus control plays it s part in the control of hyperparathyroidism are discussed. Appropriat e timing of calcitriol use and recommended doses are considered.