Hypokalemia In Dogs

Pets can end up with all kinds of disease, just as we can. Gaining knowledge of what those could be, what the signs are, and what steps to take is the key to keeping your pet happy and healthy. Our pets should have regular checkups so any diseases or illnesses can be detected early. One thing that can happen to our pets is hypokalemia, which can be potentially fatal. What is hypokalemia? The simple definition is low blood potassium. But what is going on inside the body when a dog has hypokalemia? Potassium is normally stored inside the body’s cells, which helps with normal cellular function. When these potassium levels drop, there is a change in the concentration gradient cells. This causes electrical charges not to pass through cells correctly. As the condition progresses, cells, tissue, and eventually organ function can all be affected. Hypokalemia does not always have obvious symptoms. It affects the neurological, cardiac, and skeletal muscle groups more than it affects others. Some of the common signs of hypokalemia in dogs are vomiting, lethargy, frequent urination and thirst, loss of muscle mass and weight, and chronic constipation. Most symptoms affect their muscles and movement because they simply don’t have a vital element needed to function properly. For example they might have stiff gait, ventroflexion of the head, or be walking …show more content…
To accurately diagnose hypokalemia and know the extent of the problem, a few tests have to be done. A full physical will be done by your veterinarian to evaluate body system functions. Blood tests will be run to determine the potassium levels of the blood. A urinalysis will be done to determine kidney function. In addition, an EKG will be done to see if there has been an effect on the heart. Once each test comes back and it is determined how much of the body has been affected by the condition, treatment and recovery can