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
Shepherd mix
Dexter
7 Years
0 found this helpful
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My pet has the following symptoms:
Increased Urination
My dog dexter just got his lab results back. He had a leg twitch, increased thirst and urination and lack of appetite for the past 4 days. The results were high calcium in his blood and the vet said it was either kidney failure, parathyroidism or cancer. I am panicked and we will be going back on Monday to do more tests. Is there anything I can do in the meantime?
Nov. 11, 2017
0 Recommendations
There is little that can be done in the meantime, it is important to ensure that Dexter is kept hydrated during this time especially if he is not eating; kidney failure would generally throw up a few other abnormal parameters so parathyroid issues or cancer (or both) are more likely. Further tests on Monday may include ultrasound of the parathyroid gland, blood tests to check ionised calcium among other tests. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Nov. 11, 2017
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Lowchen
Raleigh
10 years
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After visiting my vet to figure out why he was peeing constantly, my 10 year old Lowchen was diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism in late August (MSU malignancy panel showed ionized calcium 1.84, parathyroid hormone 4.9, 0 Prph).
In mid September he had a parathyroidectomy. Biopsy showed that the gland was neoplastic. One week after surgery his ionized calcium was 1.13. Two weeks after surgery it was 1.22. 4 weeks post surgery it was 1.32.
Now, 7 weeks post surgery his ionized calcium is 1.44. We will be meeting with an vet oncologist at MSU on 11/15 to consult. Do you have any advice to help me make the most of that appointment?
Nov. 10, 2017
0 Recommendations
Generally surgical removal of the affected gland is usually restorative in these cases, other external factors may play a role in ionised calcium levels which include kidney disease and nutritional deficiencies; I would wait to see the Oncologist at MSU to investigate the high and increasing calcium levels in the blood, I cannot think of anything useful to tell you at this moment. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Nov. 10, 2017
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Siberian Husky
chito
8 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Lethargy
Frequent Urination
Weakness
Thirst
How long does it take for the high calcium test to come back from the lab?
I took my dog in who presented with extreme thirst, frequent urination and weak legs, lathargic at times. My vet said it could be due to feeding raw diet? he now has swelling in and around his mouth (not moving anywhere) I strongly believe its a infection in the mouth thats causing all this. He was prescribed flagyl for 7 days which he is done now. Still waiting on test results.
could this be a infection steming from the mouth or leaning more towards cancer. None of this was gradual, it all happened suddenly
Oct. 28, 2017
1 Recommendations
Raw diets are not a cure-all solution (as some people believe) and some homemade diets may be missing some important nutrients, it is seen often in practice. Calcium shows on a normal blood test, but other tests to determine levels especially related to parathyroid hormone may need to be outsourced to laboratory; the turn around times for the test will depend on the specific test and the laboratory's workload. Possible causes may include infection, cancer, inflammation, traumatic injury among other issues. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Oct. 29, 2017
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Standard Poodle
Jesse
10
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My 10yo standard poodle Jesse was acting lethargic, drinking more and had a weak urine stream. The vet found a blocked urethra and bladder stones. Pre-op labs indicated serum calcium over 15.3, maxing their equipment's range. We went on IV fluids and sent blood out for further testing which revealed ionized calcium of 5 and serum calcium of 13. Surgery was performed to remove blockage and stones. Parathyroid levels returned at the upper range of high. Post operative serum calcium levels were 15.0. Renal function is not yet impaired. Now they are recommending another surgery. Is there a non-surgical treatment for hyperparathyroidism? With the disparity in his serum calcium, I'm not sure what to do next. Is there a better definitive diagnostic tool? Thanks, Jennifer
Oct. 7, 2017
0 Recommendations
Hyperparathyroidism may be primary or secondary; secondary causes may include infections, autoimmune, tumours, poisoning or metabolic. The primary cause needs to determined if it is a secondary condition so that the effective treatment can be administered accordingly. If it is primary hyperparathyroidism you would be looking at surgery as treatment as medical therapy is unrewarding. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
www.cliniciansbrief.com/sites/default/files/attachments/Primary%20Hyperparathyroidism.pdf
www.msdvetmanual.com/endocrine-system/the-parathyroid-glands-and-disorders-of-calcium-metabolism/hypercalcemia-in-dogs-and-cats
Oct. 7, 2017
High calcium in blood test back legs weak excessive fluid intake voiding lots loosing wieght
Oct. 27, 2017
Anita
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Average Cost
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