Severe calcinosis cutis associated with treatment of hypoparathyroidism ina dog

A 6-month-old, female border collie was referred for evaluation of hypocalc emia, hyperphosphatemia, fever, and painful ventral abdominal skin. She had recently been treated intravenously and subcutaneously (SC) with a diluted 10% calcium gluconate solution. The medical evaluation supported the diagn osis of primary hypoparathyroidism, but the subsequent hospital course was complicated by severe calcinosis cutis, which caused extensive skin necrosi s and marked debilitation. This patient illustrates that administration of a calcium gluconate solution SC can be associated with extensive morbidity when administered to hyperphosphatemic patients.