[Hypocalcemia in the horse. A case report]

With reference to previous reports on hypocalcemia in horses special attention is given to the principal symptoms such as anxiety, increased muscular tension, esp. of the musculature of the extremities, in severe cases leading to ataxia, and to a pulse-synchronized respiration (Synchronous Diaphragmatic Flutter). The time of appearance of the symptoms are much more variable than it is the case for hypocalcemic agalactia in cows. Furthermore the condition has been reported in foals as well as in geldings. Thus the triggering factor seems to be somewhat different from that of agalactia. Hypocalcemic horses also develop decreased manganese blood-level. Treatment with Ca-borogluconat in the horse can be as efficient as is the case in agalactia in the cows, but quite often it is necessary to repeat the treatment. This is illustrated by the fact that the relatively high dose (17 mg Ca/kg) administered to the present patient only increased the Calcium blood level to somewhat below normal. The triggering condition, estrus, weaning of the foal, stress, hard (sweat-provoking) work etc., in many cases perhaps a kind of mental stress, must be adequately treated. An all-round and sufficient feed ration in accordance with the working load and eventually with milk production may prove to be much more essential than realized so far for the prevention of hypocalcemia in horses.