Calcium Gluconate Veterinary Injection
Dosage
Packaging
What is Calcium Gluconate?
Active Ingredients: Calcium Gluconate
Calcium Gluconate Injection is a parenteral veterinary calcium product. It is used when a veterinarian determines that calcium replacement is required for clinically significant hypocalcemia. Relevant conditions can include parturient paresis, commonly called milk fever, in cattle and periparturient hypocalcemia in sheep or goats. It may also be used for eclampsia or other diagnosed causes of hypocalcemia in dogs.
Clinical signs differ by species and severity. They may include weakness, tremors, muscle fasciculations, stiffness, incoordination, recumbency, seizures or altered heart rate. These signs are not specific to hypocalcemia. Veterinary assessment is important because metabolic, neurologic and toxic conditions can look similar.
Calcium supports neuromuscular signaling, muscle contraction, cardiac function, coagulation and skeletal mineralization. Parenteral calcium can restore circulating ionized calcium quickly, but excessive or rapid administration can cause dangerous cardiac effects.
The correct route depends on the species, disease stage, formulation and approved label. Intravenous calcium requires slow administration with cardiac monitoring. Some registered products permit subcutaneous use in selected livestock cases. Intramuscular administration should not be stated unless it is specifically approved for the formulation and market.
The available strengths are 125mg/mL (12.5%), 250mg/mL (25%) and 440mg/mL (44%). These concentrations are not dose-equivalent. The veterinarian must calculate treatment from the product concentration, elemental calcium content, animal weight and clinical response.
This product is for animal use only. Final species claims, routes, withdrawal periods and instructions must match the approved label in the destination market.
Why are we a trusted Calcium Gluconate manufacturer?
Calcium Gluconate Injection is manufactured and globally distributed by AdvaCare Pharma, a leading manufacturer of veterinary injections in the pharmaceutical industry. We have been committed to distributing high-quality, GMP-certified veterinary medications for the global market over the past 20 years. As a top Calcium Gluconate manufacturer, we ensure that all of our 100+ veterinary injections surpass our distributors' requirements by conducting routine internal and third-party facility audits.
Uses
What is Calcium Gluconate used for?
It supplies parenteral calcium to animals with clinically diagnosed hypocalcemia. Uses may include parturient paresis in cattle, periparturient hypocalcemia in sheep and goats, and eclampsia or other calcium-deficiency disorders in dogs. Exact claims depend on the registered product label.
Which animals may receive Calcium Gluconate Injection?
Registered presentations may be intended for cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses or dogs. The product should be used only in species listed on the approved label. Species should not be inferred from another concentration or market authorization.
What are the signs of hypocalcemia in animals?
Signs can vary among species but often include muscle twitching, spasms, stiffness, weakness, incoordination, seizures, and in severe cases, cardiac complications. In dairy cows, it can manifest as milk fever, where the cow is unable to stand post-calving.
How is the injection administered?
Route and rate depend on the formulation, species and clinical condition. Slow intravenous administration is used when rapid correction is required and must include cardiac monitoring. Some products allow subcutaneous administration in selected livestock cases. Follow the approved label.
Why must the concentration be checked?
A 12.5%, 25% and 44% solution contains different amounts of calcium gluconate per milliliter. Volumes cannot be transferred from one strength to another. The veterinarian must calculate the dose from the actual formulation and clinical need.
How is milk fever treated in cattle?
Treatment depends on disease stage. The Merck Veterinary Manual guidance on parturient paresis in cows distinguishes standing cows from recumbent cows and emphasizes prompt, monitored treatment. Product choice and route must match the approved label and the veterinarian’s assessment.
How is eclampsia treated in dogs?
Canine eclampsia is an emergency. Slow intravenous calcium gluconate may be used with heart-rate or ECG monitoring. The Merck Veterinary Manual guidance on eclampsia in small animals describes the need for monitored treatment and management of nursing and nutrition.
What monitoring is required?
Observe clinical response and monitor heart rate and rhythm during IV administration. Laboratory monitoring may include ionized or total calcium when available. Ionized calcium is the biologically active fraction and can provide the most direct assessment.
What should be done if too much is given?
Stop administration and obtain immediate veterinary care. Excess calcium or rapid IV delivery can cause bradycardia, arrhythmias, hypotension, weakness, collapse or cardiac arrest. Treatment is supportive and guided by clinical findings.
How should the product be stored?
Use the storage conditions printed on the approved label. Protect the vial from contamination and damage. Do not use a solution with visible particles or discoloration.
Dosage
How much Calcium Gluconate Injection should be given to cattle?
The usual dose is 250-500ml (Calcium Gluconate 25%), given via slow IV infusion.
How much Calcium Gluconate Injection should be given to sheep?
The usual dose is 1-2ml per kg of body weight. Do not exceed 100ml per injection site.
How much Calcium Gluconate Injection should be given to horses?
For horses, the recommended dosage for Calcium Gluconate Injection ranges between 0.1 to 0.4mg/kg/min.
How much Calcium Gluconate Injection should be given to dogs?
For dogs experiencing hypocalcemia, the recommended dosage of a 12.5% calcium gluconate solution is between 25 to 75mg per pound (50 to 150mg/kg) of body weight.
How much Calcium Gluconate Injection should be given to pigs?
For swine, especially sows showing signs of hypocalcemia or experiencing complications around farrowing, the recommended dosage of calcium gluconate injection is approximately 5 to 10ml per 100 pounds of body weight.
How much Calcium Gluconate Injection should be given to goats?
For goats, particularly those at risk of hypocalcemia during late gestation or post-kidding, the usual dosage of Calcium Gluconate Injection is about 1-3ml per kilogram of body weight. As with sheep, it's advised not to exceed 100ml per injection site.
A veterinarian must select the dose and administration rate. Intravenous calcium should be given slowly while monitoring the heart. Follow the locally approved product label. Do not convert volumes between strengths without recalculating the amount of calcium delivered.
Side Effects
Potential adverse effects include:
- injection-site pain, swelling or tissue irritation
- phlebitis or tissue injury after extravasation
- bradycardia or cardiac arrhythmias
- hypotension, weakness or collapse
- hypercalcemia after excessive administration
- cardiac arrest after overly rapid intravenous administration
Risk depends on the concentration, route, administration rate, dose and animal’s condition. Monitor the animal during and after treatment. Report serious or unexpected reactions to the veterinarian and the appropriate pharmacovigilance authority.
Precautions
Do not use in animals with hypercalcemia or known hypersensitivity to the formulation. Avoid use in animals showing cardiac distress unless a veterinarian determines that treatment is necessary and can provide close monitoring.
Use with particular caution in animals with renal or cardiac disease, hypercalciuria, urinary calculi or concurrent cardiac glycoside therapy. Calcium can interact with cardiac glycosides, calcium-channel blockers, magnesium salts, neuromuscular blockers, thiazide diuretics and vitamin D analogues. Review concurrent medicines before treatment.
Intravenous calcium must be given slowly. Monitor heart rate and rhythm throughout administration. Slow or stop the infusion if bradycardia or arrhythmia develops.
Confirm the approved route before administration. Do not generalize IV, SC and IM use across all concentrations. Check the solution for particles, discoloration or container damage before use.
Food-producing animals must be treated in accordance with the locally approved label. Observe any stated meat or milk withdrawal period. Keep treatment records as required by local regulation.
Veterinary use only. A veterinarian should determine the diagnosis, concentration, dose, route, administration rate and need for repeat treatment.
What are the most common animals Calcium Gluconate Injection is used for?
Calcium Gluconate Injection is used for a number of animal species, including:
- Cows: In dairy cows, calcium gluconate injection is frequently used to treat milk fever (postparturient hypocalcemia). It is typically administered intravenously, often into the jugular vein, with careful and slow infusion to prevent complications such as cardiac arrhythmias.
- Dogs: For dogs, calcium gluconate injections can be administered to treat conditions like eclampsia after whelping. The drug is given intravenously, with close monitoring during the infusion to avoid adverse reactions.
- Goats: Hypocalcemia can also be treated in goats using calcium gluconate injections. The drug can be given either intravenously or subcutaneously.
- Sheep: Sheep at risk of twin lamb disease or other conditions causing hypocalcemia may benefit from calcium gluconate injections. As with goats, the drug can be administered either IV or subcutaneously, with attention to the rate of administration.
- Pigs: Calcium gluconate injections can be given to address hypocalcemia, especially in sows around the time of farrowing.
- Horses: Horses, though less frequently treated with calcium gluconate injections compared to some other livestock, can receive it in cases of hypocalcemia.
