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Study explores ionized hypercalcaemia in cats
Study provides clear clinical information on causes associated with disrupted calcium concentrations.
RVC study examines associated diagnoses.

A Royal Veterinary College (RVC) study has highlighted the more common diagnoses associated with ionized hypercalcaemia in cats.

The researchers found that the three most likely causes of ionized hypercalcaemia were kidney-related causes, neoplasia (abnormal growths) and idiopathic hypercalcaemia (high blood calcium).

Using the RVC VetCompass programme to collect data, the research team gathered and analysed the largest data set of cats with ionized hypercalcaemia as yet reported in literature to explore the different pathological causes.

In just over half of the 238 cases, a defined pathological cause was identified, these were acute kidney injury (13 per cent), malignancy associated (10.1 per cent), idiopathic hypercalcaemia (10.1 per cent) and chronic kidney disease/renal diet associated (8.4 per cent).

Researchers found a marked variability in total hypercalcaemia by diagnosis, highlighting the importance of ionised calcium measurement if hypercalcaemia is differential for a patient's clinical signs.

The study also explores the prevalence of concurrent urolithiasis, with urolithiasis identified in 83.3 per cent of acute kidney injury associated hypercalcaemia, 72.7 per cent of iatrogenic hypercalcaemia, 61.1 per cent of CKD/renal diet-associated hypercalcaemia and 50 per cent of idiopathic hypercalcaemia cases imaged. 

Given this high proportion of hypercalcaemic cats with concurrent urolithiasis, the research team has suggested that further studies into calcium-based urolith formation are needed.

'Ionized hypercalcaemia in 238 cats from a referral hospital population (2009-2019)' is published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

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News Shorts
New form for online veterinary medicines retailers

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has produced a new online form for retailers wishing to sell veterinary medicines on the internet.

The form replace the previous Word version and is part of the VMD's ongoing commitment to digitise its processes. Anyone retailing prescription medicines online, including POM-V, POM-VPS and NFA-VPS categories, is lawfully required to register with the VMD before trading.

The change only applies to new applicants. Retailers already listed on the VMD's Register of Online Retailers or registered under the Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme (AIRS) do not need to do anything.