Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
High calcium and hormone levels in two dogs with schistosomiasis
By Fradkin, J M et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2001·Department of Small Animal Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Elevated parathyroid hormone-related protein and hypercalcemia in two dogs with schistosomiasis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Two adult dogs were found to have high calcium levels in their blood, which led to further testing that revealed elevated levels of a protein related to parathyroid hormone. Sadly, both dogs were diagnosed with schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection. Symptoms of this condition can include skin issues, coughing, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Treatment options like praziquantel or fenbendazole may help, but the outcome can vary. In these cases, the dogs' condition was serious, and the elevated protein levels were unusual since they were not linked to cancer.
People also search for: dog high calcium levels · schistosomiasis treatment in dogs · dog coughing and diarrhea · dog skin problems and loss of appetite
Abstract
Two adult dogs were evaluated for hypercalcemia. Diagnostic evaluation identified elevated parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and presumptive humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. At necropsy, schistosomiasis was diagnosed. North American schistosomiasis is caused by Heterobilharzia americana. Clinical findings may include dermatitis, coughing, diarrhea, and anorexia. Clinicopathological findings may include hypercalcemia, hyperglobulinemia, hypoalbuminemia, anemia, and eosinophilia. Diagnosis by fecal examination is difficult. Praziquantel or fenbendazole treatment may be curative or palliative. These are the first reported cases of hypercalcemia with elevated PTHrP in animals without diagnosed malignancy. Elevation of PTHrP has not been previously reported in hypercalcemic humans or in animals with granulomatous inflammation.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11450835/