Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypophosphatemia in
Young
Turkeys
Cumali Özkan*, Abdullah
Kaya, Loğman Aslan1 and Yakup Akgül
Department of Internal Diseases, 1Department
of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Yuzuncu
Yil, 65080, Van, Turkey *Corresponding Author: cozkanvet@hotmail.com
Abstract
This study was aimed to diagnose and to treat the
disease of young turkeys showing hypophosphatemia symptoms in a farm. The
material of this study was consisted of turkeys in both genders, aged between
13-15 weeks. In the clinical examinations of the turkeys; weight loss, weakness,
unwilling to walk, lameness and extremity fractures in some animals were
determined. Blood samples were collected from 20 turkeys chosen randomly for
biochemical analyses and mineral assays. Serum Ca, P, ALP, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn
and Co levels were analyzed. Phosphorus and Zn levels were found to decrease
significantly whereas Ca, ALP, Mn levels and Ca/P ratio found to increase before
treatment. For treatment purpose, phosphoric acid and vitamin D3 were
added to their drinking water. Clinical findings improved after treatment and
biochemical parameters which was abnormal before treatment returned to normal
values after treatment. As a result, hypophosphatemia was one of the most
important reasons of foot problems and bone fractures during the growth period
of the turkeys. It was also observed that adding phosphorus and vitamin D in the
drinking water for the purpose of treatment was considered to be beneficial.