Name
Diagnosis and Surgical Management of Primary Hyperparathyroidism in a New Zealand White Rabbit
Speakers
Description
Background: Primary hyperparathyroidism is a disorder of the parathyroid gland(s) resulting in excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone, leading to elevated calcium levels. There have been no identified published cases of primary hyperparathyroidism in a rabbit.
Case description: A 9-year-old male neutered New Zealand white rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) presented for weight loss, inappetence and reduced ambulation. Blood work revealed markedly elevated serum calcium (>20mg/dL), ionized calcium (>2.7mmol/L), and PTH (18.10 pmol/L). A cervical ultrasound confirmed the presence of a parathyroid nodule. The patient was anesthetized and a nodulectomy was performed. Hypocalcemia occurred 48 hours post-op, which was managed on a tapering dose of Calcitriol. The calcium normalized after 6 weeks of therapy. The rabbit also suffered a complete fracture of the right humerus during recovery. The fracture was surgically stabilized. The rabbit remained asymptomatic 6 months after presentation.
Conclusions and case relevance: Primary hyperparathyroidism should be considered as a differential in rabbits presenting with hypercalcemia. Successful management of this case was achieved via surgical nodulectomy.
Session Type
Lecture (25 Min)