A Case Series of Four Dogs Presenting with Neurological Deficits Due to Suspected Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism after Being Fed an Exclusive Diet of Raw Meat

Abstract

Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSH) in dogs is a condition that develops in response to a vitamin D deficiency or an imbalanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in dog food. Puppies of large-breed dogs exclusively fed a non-supplemented, boneless raw meat diet are especially susceptible to developing NSH due to their elevated calcium requirement. Reports on NSH in companion animals have been sparse in the last decades due to dog owners having easy access to commercially balanced dog foods. However, with the rising popularity of meat-based raw feeding, this condition has re-emerged. In this case series, four large-breed puppies fed exclusively non-supplemented, boneless raw meat diets presented with complaints of acute onset of pain and paresis. Radiographs and/or computed tomography (CT) scans showed reduced radio density of the skeleton in all four puppies. Two of the dogs had pathological fractures, and these two puppies were euthanized. One was subjected to a post mortem examination, which revealed cortical bone resorption and hypertrophy of the parathyroid glands. The remaining two puppies rapidly improved after receiving pain medication and a commercial, balanced diet. This case series demonstrates a risk of young dogs developing severe neurological deficits when fed a non-supplemented, boneless raw meat diet.