# Case Report: long-term calcaemia management in a dog after thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy

## TL;DR

A dog with low blood calcium after thyroid and parathyroid surgery was successfully managed with a customized diet and supplements over six months.

## Contribution

A tailored nutritional strategy for long-term hypocalcaemia management in a canine patient after thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy.

## Key findings

- The dog maintained stable calcium levels with a homemade diet and calcium supplements.
- Vitamin D3 and phosphorus levels were also stabilized over six months.
- The tailored diet helped manage hyporexia and long-term calcaemia.

## Abstract

This report describes a canine case of severe hypocalcaemia following the surgical removal of a thyroid lobe and the ipsilateral parathyroid glands for thyroid carcinoma. After initial stabilisation with intravenous calcium gluconate, the dog was initially managed with a commercial diet, and subsequently with a homemade diet, which provided 3.72 and 3.30 g/1,000 kcal ME of calcium, 376 and 295 IU of vitamin D3, and 2.48 and 1.50 g/1,000 kcal metabolisable energy (ME) of phosphorus, respectively. Both nutritional plans were supplemented with calcium carbonate (200 mg/day) and calcitriol (9.84 IU/day) to maintain normocalcaemia. A tailored, homemade diet was formulated to address the onset of hyporexia. The patient maintained stable serum calcium, phosphorus, and total 25(OH) vitamin D concentrations over a mid-term follow-up period of 6 months.