The parathyroid glands, which are closely associated with the thyroid glands in dogs and cats, produce a hormone that is responsible for increasing calcium levels in the blood by drawing stores of this mineral from bone and other regions of the body. Hyperparathyroidism is a condition initiated by a deficiency of calcium within the blood stream. This can result from diet regimens that are high in phosphorus (nutritional hyperparathyroidism), such as all-meat diets, or, more commonly in older pets, from increased phosphorus levels in the body caused by kidney disease. When such a calcium deficiency occurs, the parathyroid glands respond by secreting large amounts of hormone, which draws calcium out of bone in an attempt to normalize blood calcium levels. Over time, these bones become weakened and prone to stress injury.
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