What is Excess Calcium in the Blood?
Many canines with excess calcium in the blood become very sick, while others show no symptoms of the condition. Calcium is essential to critical bodily functions like bone growth and muscle contraction, but an overabundance may be secondary to an underlying disease and can also contribute to urolithiasis (the formation of stones in the kidneys, bladder or urinary tract). Having excess calcium in the blood can cause damage to all areas of the body and the extent of the harm will depend on the how extreme the increase is, and how long your pet has been experiencing the condition. Prompt treatment for your canine companion is necessary in order to avoid significant complications that could make him very ill.
Excess calcium in the blood is defined as hypercalcemia in veterinary terms. While calcium does play an important role in the body, excessive amounts can signify the presence of a serious underlying disease such as cancer or kidney failure.
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Symptoms of Excess Calcium in the Blood in Dogs
Although some canines may be asymptomatic when their blood contains too much calcium, others will become very sick. Hypercalcemia hinders the ability to concentrate urine and also leads to excess thirst. The symptoms will vary depending on how severe the hypercalcemia has become.
- Extreme thirst (polydipsia)
- High production of diluted urine (polyuria)
- Pain when urinating (dysuria)
- Blood in the urine (hematuria)
- Frequent urination which may come only in drops (stranguria)
- Muscle weakness
- Muscle twitching
- Listlessness
- Low appetite
- Dehydration
- Depression
- Constipation
- Low activity tolerance
- Seizures
- Collapse
Secondary illnesses may manifest additional symptoms related to the specific condition.
Types
Blood Calcium is either referred to as total blood calcium (attached to proteins), or ionized (not attached to proteins, and also known as free calcium). All cells need calcium in order to function properly.
Causes of Excess Calcium in the Blood in Dogs
The number of reasons why your pet may suffer from an excess of calcium in the blood are many, with cancer being the number one cause.
- Apocrine gland sarcoma of the anal sac
- Multiple myeloma
- Carcinomas like pancreatic
- Lymphosarcoma
- Ingestion of certain plants
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Hyperadrenocorticism (Addison’s disease)
- Ingestion of excessive Vitamin D in supplements or medicines
- Bone disease
- Fungal infection
- Dehydration
- Granulomatous disease like histoplasmosis
- Azotemia (accumulation of large amounts of nitrogenous waste products in the blood)
Diagnosis of Excess Calcium in the Blood in Dogs
The veterinary team will require a complete recent history of the events leading to the visit. Be as accurate as you can when relaying information about the symptoms you have noticed, and the approximate time frame for when you began to see changes in your pet’s demeanor and state of health.
There are many causes for excess calcium in the blood, and therefore the number of possible tests that can be ordered varies greatly also. First, a complete physical examination will be done, to begin the overall analysis of your pet’s health.
Tests that may be included in the diagnostic process are listed below.
Blood tests
- Complete blood count and serum biochemistry profile
- Calcium levels are checked within a biochemistry profile. This may include both ionised and un-ionised.
- The calcium test should be repeated after a 12 hour fast for optimum accuracy
- The veterinarian will check for Addison’s disease by assessing salt and cortisol levels
- Vitamin D levels may be analysed
- Verification of the presence of fungus is important
Assay of PTH or PTHrP
- PTH can indicate if the parathyroid glands are causing the hypercalcaemia
- PTHrP test can be used to confirm hypercalcaemia with malignancies like apocrine gland adenocarcinoma of the anal sac
Urinalysis
- This test can indicate if the kidneys are functioning normally
- The presence of blood and the concentration of urine will be studied
Imaging Tests
- An MRI scan, radiographs and/or ultrasound scans can reveal cancer or bone damage
Other diagnostic tools like cytology, biopsy, or histology could be needed as well.
Treatment of Excess Calcium in the Blood in Dogs
Treatment for the excess calcium in the blood will initially depend on the condition of your beloved pet when he arrives at the clinic. The main impact on your dog’s health in the immediate will be regaining the function of elimination of calcium from the urine, and to stop the removal of calcium from the bones.
Your dog may need intravenous or diuretic therapy if he is dehydrated, or if renal function needs to be supported. Glucocorticoids will also be administered if needed to balance the calcium function and resorption. Medication to decrease serum calcium or inhibit bone resorption could be prescribed.
In cases of a secondary illness which may be causing the excess calcium, improvement will be seen when the problem is addressed. For example, treatment for hypoadrenocorticism, if that is the cause, will resolve the hypercalcemia. In the instance of a malignancy, surgery or chemotherapy and radiation might be the required method of treatment.
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Recovery of Excess Calcium in the Blood in Dogs
Once serum calcium concentrations are normalised, your pet will be on the road to recovery. If too much supplementation of Vitamin D was the problem, for example, simply removing the additive will help to eradicate the problem. In the event of a malignancy, the treatment and recovery will be more extensive. However, it must be noted that when cancer is causing the hypercalcemia, the positive prognosis is much lower because tumors often recur and survival time is low.
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Excess Calcium in the Blood Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Boxer
Kahlua
5 Years
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Thirsty
Is there anything we need to do pending parathyroid hormone w/ ionized calcium test? Our 5 year old female boxer is drinking excessive water, peeing in her kennel, and vomiting. We've done anal gland expression, xrays of her thorax and stomach. Both of those showed no obvious concerns. She seems more and more lethargic and we are very concerned. Her calcium level is 13. Is there anything we can do in the meantime to make sure shes not getting worse?? Thank you!
Jan. 24, 2018
2 Recommendations
Until we know the specific cause of the elevated calcium levels in the blood it isn’t really possible to advise specific preventative measures since we are not sure of the underlying cause and we also do not wish to skew the results of any blood test not taken yet. It is a case at the moment of offering supportive care and ensuring that any accidents are cleaned up (not causing any urine scalding etc…); any other details should be discussed with your Veterinarian. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Jan. 24, 2018
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Shitzu mix
cole
1 Year
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Sleepy
My dog is 1 y/o . He has high calcium levels. Originally took him to the vet because of his back leg bothering him. He eats grass, toys, plants etc (He’s a puppy). They checked for Addisons disease and it wasn’t. The vet is preparing us for lymphoma. Do you think that possible? If not, any other diagnosis?
Dec. 12, 2017
0 Recommendations
There are a few different causes for high blood calcium levels which may include kidney failure, adrenal gland disorders (Addison’s Disease), parathyroid gland tumour, lymphoma, other types of cancer among other causes. A Thorough examination is required along with a review of the blood results, but without examining cole I cannot give you much input here. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Dec. 12, 2017
Hi Cole, please can you provide an update? We would love to chat to you as our young puppy is experiencing identical symptoms and has lost complete appetite now. Thank you
Aug. 19, 2018
Matt M.
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English Coonhound
Elmer
15 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My dog is 15 and has a calcium level of 12 two months ago. I have been treating with prednisone and pain meds. Last week my vet did a calcium side and was not able to measure the calcium due to its high level. We have been keeping him comfortable giving enemas as needed. I noticed he isn’t peeing as much and is sleeping more. Today his drinking has decreased and he seems to be sleeping a lot. He has been on Alendronate once daily for the last six days as well. Kidney failure?
Dec. 1, 2017
0 Recommendations
I am guessing that the calcium level was 12mg/dL since you gave no units as calcium may be measured in mg/dL or mmol/l depending on where you’re from. A calcium level of 12mg/dL is only slightly above the reference range for calcium in dogs of 9.1–11.7mg/dL; causes for an increase in calcium may be attributable to parathyroid disorders, kidney failure, other hormonal conditions and cancer to name a few. Further diagnostic tests are required and a complete blood panel would be useful for diagnosis as well ultrasound of the parathyroid glands if necessary. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Dec. 1, 2017
When Elmer asked about her dog, she said the vet couldn't measure the calcium because it was too high. We had the same situation with our dog who had been battling a return of adenocarcinoma and Cushing's disease. As our vet explained, the calcium test cannot test for levels higher than 20mg/dL. While Elmer's dog's calcium level had been 12mg/dL, it was likely that it was above 20mg/dL when she said the vet said it was too high to measure. At that level, her dog was very likely in kidney failure. At 15 years old, there would be nothing Elmer could do to extend the dog's like significantly and the dog would remain highly symptomatic with calcium levels that high.
April 4, 2018
Julie R.
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Dachsund
Lucky
10 -11
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Blood Spattering When Sneezing.
Lucky had been sneezing for a couple weeks mostly when she comes in from outside, I didn't think anything of it. 5 days ago she started spraying blood some of the time she sneezes (1-2X a day). She seemed Normal otherwise and has a good appetite. I brought her in after 2nd bloody episode. Last day or so I noticed she is drinking and peeing more often.
Vet did comprehensive blood work, most blood work looks good, but Calcium is 12.4, no lumps, facial swelling or lymph swelling. He is thinking could be nasal cancer, to keep an eye on her. If thats the case I am not sure if its fair to put her thru Chemo or Radiation because results will only prolong and cause her a lot of discomfort.
Is there anything I can do to suppress the bleeding and or sneezing? Can steroids help?
Nov. 25, 2017
0 Recommendations
Steroids would only be useful if the cause of bleeding was due to something like immune mediated thrombocytopenia; in a case like this where the underlying cause is unknown it would be best to give something natural (but effective) like yunnan baiyao which is an effective hemostatic herbal preparation with a lot of strong scientific evidence behind it. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Nov. 26, 2017
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Average Cost
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