HYPOCALCEMIA AND HYPERPHOSPHATEMIA DUE TO PRIMARY HYPOPARATHYROIDISM IN A 6-MONTH-OLD KITTEN

A six-month-old, intact female Himalayan kitten was presented to the U niversity of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for evalua tion of chronic lethargy, inappetance, muscle tremors, and seizures. U pon physical examination, the kitten was very small for her age. Bilat eral, incipient-to-immature cataracts were seen on ophthalmic examinat ion. Severe hypocalcemia and concurrent hyperphosphatemia were identif ied on initial diagnostic evaluation. A diagnosis of primary hypoparat hyroidism was made by identifying reduced concentrations of parathyroi d hormone (PTH). The kitten responded well to treatment with calcium, vitamin D, and aluminum hydroxide and is clinically normal 17 months a fter initiation of treatment.