Special Veterinary Pathology

INTRODUCTION

Deficiency of minerals

• Primary Cause
• Secondary Cause

Primary causes

• Diet of poor quality (esp. roughages) or
• Inadequate quantity (simple starvation)

Secondary causes

• Poor absorption of nutrients
• Decreased digestive secretions from hepatic or pancreatic disease
• Diarrhoea
• Interference with storage or utilization of a nutrient
• Example– thyroiditis – ↓normal tissue - ↓ absorption of iodine
• Increased excretion-Example -Loss of potassium in diarrhoea; Loss of calcium in hyperparathyroidism
• Increased requirement associated with pregnancy, lactation, hyperthyroidism