MDose · Veterinary drug reference
CALCIUM SALTS
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Source overview
Recorded excerpts for one species. Each dose remains a separate source entry; no regimen is selected.
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Pending clinical review (PROPOSED)Rule-based (RULE_BASED)— applies to the facts and dose entries in this species selection; individual source records retain their own status.
Indications2
Acute ionized hypocalcemia (tetany/seizures — eclampsia, post-thyroidectomy/parathyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism); hyperkalemic cardioprotection (stabilizes myocardium — buys time, doesn't lower K); calcium-channel-blocker overdose; oral: hypocalcemia maintenance + phosphate binding (acetate: with-meal binder)
DogCatNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)2 source records · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Indications table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Acute ionized hypocalcemia (tetany/seizures — eclampsia, post-thyroidectomy/parathyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism); hyperkalemic cardioprotection (stabilizes myocardium — buys time, doesn't lower K); calcium-channel-blocker overdose; oral: hypocalcemia maintenance + phosphate binding (acetate: with-meal binder) — OTC/Rx standard therapy
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Indications table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Acute ionized hypocalcemia (tetany/seizures — eclampsia, post-thyroidectomy/parathyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism); hyperkalemic cardioprotection (stabilizes myocardium — buys time, doesn't lower K); calcium-channel-blocker overdose; oral: hypocalcemia maintenance + phosphate binding (acetate: with-meal binder) — OTC/Rx standard therapy
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Indications table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Dose regimens5
This calculator performs arithmetic only on the sourced dosing field shown for each result — it does not verify the field's accuracy, does not select which field to use for a patient, and does not replace a veterinarian's order. Not for clinical use. Confirm every result against the primary source before dispensing.
Choose one species above to view its dose calculator.
Adverse effects4
Vomiting (oral) — Common
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Tissue necrosis on perivascular injection (esp. CaCl₂) — Vein discipline
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Bradycardia/arrhythmias, S-T elevation, Q-T shortening (too fast) — The ECG-stop rules
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Hypercalcemia (over-treatment/oral) — Monitoring-driven
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Monitoring1
Clinical: ECG during IV (stop-signs above); ionized calcium; reflex tetany resolution; for hyperK: the K-lowering definitive therapy still needed
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Monitoring Parameters · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Contraindications1
Ventricular fibrillation; hypercalcemia; digitalis-treated patients (additive arrhythmogenicity — extreme caution)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Precautions4
Renal failure (oral dosing → hypercalcemia); monitor ionized Ca, not total
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Hyperkalemia pearl: calcium doesn't fix the potassium — it un-stuns the heart while insulin/dextrose/bicarbonate do the actual work. "Membrane-stabilizer, not corrector."
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Eclampsia picture (trembling nursing bitch) → warm calcium gluconate slow IV to effect → oral maintenance + wean strategy.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Salt-math trap: gluconate vs chloride elemental-calcium content differ ~3×; and oral dosing ALWAYS rides with vitamin D and away from chelating antibiotics.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Interactions5
Digitalis (digoxin) — Synergistic myocardial Ca loading → arrhythmias — caution historic
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Sodium bicarbonate — Precipitation — separate lines
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones (oral Ca) — Chelation — separate dosing
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Vitamin D/calcitriol — Deliberate synergy for absorption
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Phosphate binders logic — With-meal timing (see phosphate-binders.md)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pharmacokinetics3
Mechanism (acute) — Ionized Ca²⁺ restoration: neuromuscular stability, cardiac contractility; hyperkalemia: raises threshold potential without changing serum K
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Oral absorption — Needs active vitamin D + acidic pH; inhibited by fiber/phytates/corticosteroids/tetracyclines
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Salt arithmetic — 10% calcium gluconate = 9.3 mg elemental Ca/mL (≈ 0.46 mEq/mL); 10% calcium chloride ≈ 3× more elemental — know which salt before dosing
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pregnancy / lactation considerations1
Eclampsia (post-partum hypocalcemia) is a prime indication; treat mother, wean if recurrent.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 182–185 (calcium acetate p.182–183; calcium gluconate p.184–185) — Pregnancy & Lactation · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Literature references19
References are linked to this drug. Species applicability is not recorded here, so the species filter does not narrow this list. Imported dates do not retain their original precision; confirm dates in the original citation.
- Dietary starch level determines the efficacy of calcium salts of palm fatty acids on nitrogen use efficiency and performance in feedlot lambs.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Integrated recovery of calcium salts and collagen-derived fractions from eggshell waste using ultrasound-assisted acid treatment.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Corn processing methods associated with calcium salts of fatty acids and organic minerals preserve gastrointestinal epithelium and mitigates systemic inflammation in beef cattle fed high grain diets.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids Alter Hepatic Lipid Oxidation and Oxidative Stress Markers in Postpartum Dairy Cows.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Nutritional protocols for improving meat quality of feedlot Nellore bulls differing in marbling estimated progeny.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
Sources: PubMed, National Library of Medicine; Plumb DC. Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook. 7th ed. PharmaVet Inc; 2011.
Owner information handout
Plain-language medication information to review with the owner. Open the handout to print it or download a PDF.