Metastatic calcification in a dog attributable to ingestion of a tacalcitol ointment

A 22-week-old 21-kg female Bernese Mountain Dog ingested a topical antipsor iatic preparation containing the synthetic vitamin D analog tacalcitol. The dog died after a history of lethargy, recumbency, paresis of the hindlimbs , increased rectal temperature, dyspnea, and hematemesis. Histologic examin ation revealed metastatic calcification in the kidneys, lungs, myocardium, brain, stomach, and tear glands. The appearance of soft tissue mineralizati on in multiple organs is consistent with hypercalcemia derived from excessi ve vitamin D uptake. Oral toxicity studies for tacalcitol in the dog are no t available, but the present report emphasizes the extraordinary toxic risk of drugs containing this vitamin D analog to dogs.