Comparing two major bone pathologies in humans and companion animals: Osteoporosis and hyperparathyroidism

Abstract

Metabolic/endocrinological diseases of bone are a major topic in human medicine, but are not that frequent in veterinary medicine. We will focus on two major bone diseases of human medicine, namely, osteoporosis and hyperparathyroidism, and compare their expression and pathophysiology in companion animals. In humans, postmenopausal osteoporosis is the most frequent and economically most important bone disease, but interestingly has no direct equivalent in veterinary medicine. This is also due to the fact that osteoporosis is not only a matter of low bone mineral density but also of altered bone (micro)structure. Also, hypoestrogenism does not seem to be of that clinical importance in our domestic mammals. On the other hand, hyperparathyroidism, which is frequently diagnosed in humans as well, resembles a clinical problem also the veterinarian has to deal with.