HYPOPHOSPHATEMIA ASSOCIATED WITH ENTERAL ALIMENTATION IN CATS

Hypophosphatemia is uncommon in cats, but it has been reported in asso ciation with diabetes mellitus and hepatic lipidosis, where it can cau se hemolysis, rhabdomyopathy, depression, seizures. and coma. The purp ose of this article is to describe 9 cats that developed low serum pho sphorus concentrations (<2.5 mg/dL) subsequent to enteral alimentation . Serum biochemical analyses from more than 6,000 cats were reviewed. The medical records of all cats with hypophosphatemia were examined fo r history of enteral alimentation; diabetic cats were excluded from th e study. Nine cats, ranging in age from 3 to 17 years, were identified . All cats had normal serum phosphorus concentrations before tube feed ing began. Onset of hypophosphatemia occurred 12 to 72 hours after ini tiation of enteral alimentation, and the nadir for phosphorus concentr ations ranged from 0.4 to 2.4 mg/dL. Hemolysis occurred in 6 of the 9 cats. Hypophosphatemia secondary to enteral alimentation is an uncommo n clinical finding in cats. Cats with high alanine aminotransferase ac tivity, hyperbilirubinemia, and weight loss should be closely monitore d for hypophosphatemia during the first 72 hours of enteral alimentati on.