Mineral metabolism in healthy geriatric dogs

To study mineral metabolism in geriatric dogs, parathyroid hormone, calcitriol, ionised calcium, phosphorus, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were evaluated in 35 geriatric dogs (> 10 years) and in 20 young adult dogs (2-5 years). Parathyroid hormone levels were within the normal range in both groups, but values (mean +/- SEM) were greater in the old dogs (34.8 +/- 3.6 vs 21.2 +/- 2.3 pg ml(-1), P=0.005). Calcitriol and ionised calcium were similar in the two groups, and the values for both parameters were within the normal reference range. Plasma phosphorus levels were in the normal range in both groups but tended to be greater in the older dogs (P=0.09). While blood urea nitrogen was similar in the two groups, creatinine levels (mean +/- SEM) were higher in the young dogs (82.2 +/- 3.5 vs 101.7 +/- 4.4 micromol litre(-1)). Even when the dogs were matched for weight, plasma creatinine concentration was still greater in the younger dogs. In conclusion, an increase in parathyroid hormone without changes in calcium, phosphorus and calcitriol has been identified in geriatric dogs.