Suspected pseudohypoparathyroidism in a domestic ferret

Secretion of parathyroid hormone serves as an internal homeostatic mechanism for regulation of blood calcium and phosphorus concentrations. Pseudohypoparathyroidism is a hereditary condition that clinically resembles hypoparathyroidism but is caused by a lack of response to high circulating concentrations of parathyroid hormone, rather than a deficiency of this hormone. It is characterized by low serum calcium, high serum phosphorus, and high serum parathyroid concentrations. Low serum calcium, high serum phosphorus, and high serum parathyroid hormone concentrations may also be seen in association with nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism in young animals, chronic severe renal secondary hyperparathyroidism, tumor lysis syndrome, and hypomagnesemia.