Excessive thirst/drinking..cancer??

[ShannonB]

Hi everyone
My 8 year old male boxer Cody suddenly began drinking so much water that he can't hold his urine. I took hom to the vet expecting maybe his blood sugar to be off. Instead, they tell me everything checks out except he has a high calcium level in his blood which probably indicates cancer.I was floored. I have been crying for 3 days(awaiting more blood results)Has anyone had any experience with this symptom in cancer? He is his same old wonderful self except for the drinking/peeing. The vet did a urine sample also-said something about the gravity of that but I was crying by that time and didn't really pay attention. Also checked his kidney and liver function and both were normal, no blood in urine, white count was good in blood also. I know this is not a vet board so I apologize if I am getting into too much detail. I just wish I could find some info on his excessive drinking. That seems to be the root of his "accidents"..but why would that be a symptom of cancer? I am praying my vet is wrong. We left him for 4 hours yesterday and when we came home he had drank ALL the water in the toilet(it was clean) and had an accident on the floor. I would love to hear from anyone on this!
Thanks Shannon

 

[Krikkit]

Cody

Shannon, I'm sorry that Cody is having these problems :( I don't have any experience with this but just wanted to wish Cody and you all the best and let you know we will be thinking of you. Waiting for answers is so very difficult... Will be hoping for the best, please keep us updated.

Sharon

 

[jdella1]

Hypercalcemia (high calcium)

First off let me say that I am not a vet, I'm a medical student. In people or should I say human beings (because boxers are people too) hypercalcemia (high calcium) can be a manifestation of a few different disease processes. The most common cause is hyperparathyroidism which means too much parathyroid hormone. This could be due to an unexplained increase in parathyroid hormone output by the parathyroid glands or it could be a parathyroid tumor which could be benign (harmless) or malignant (invasive and destructive) in either case the definitive cure would be parathyroidectomy (removal of the parathyroid glands). So this etiology needs to be ruled out. The next most common cause is unfortunately malignancy. Malignancy associated hypercalcemia usually presents suddenly as in your case and is a serious sign. One of the many symptoms of this increased calcium is increased thirst and urine output. High calcium associated with cancer usually presents when there has been cancer involvement in the bone. I don't know what else to tell you about this. Unfortunately, your vet may be correct. Ask him about the possibility of a parathyroid hormone imbalance and if there is anything that they can do for it in dogs. Once again, I'm sorry about your situation. I can only imagine, my dog is only 9 months old. Whatever happens is meant to be in the grander scheme of things. Wishing you the best

John

 

[BoxingBoomer]

excessive thirst

Cody, ask your vet to check for Cushings Disease. Excessive thirst along with excessive urination and hair loss are all signs of Cushings Disease. If caught early, the chance of survival is greater for the dog. I hope everything works out for you and your boxer.
Best of Luck to you,
Boxing Boomer

Mother of:

Boomer 2/5/92 - 3/16/01 (Waiting at the Bridge)
My gentle giant, and sadly missed :(
My first boxer baby


Bruno 10-mo.old, brindle & white, docked tail, natural ears
(I forgot what it was like to have a boxer baby around!! HELP :D )

 

[Adelle]

Shannon I am going through the exact same problem right now. Hooligan our 9 year old male has been drinking and peeing excessively and has also stopped eating, we took him to the emergency animal hospital over the holiday weekend and he has been there ever since. His blood tests also revealed a high level of calcium which they told us can mean there is a cancer somewhere in the body or there are some other diseases which could cause this. We are in the process of doing a million different tests to find the cause and to rule out any of the other conditions which might also be causing the high calcium level. He is miserable, if he would eat he could come home but they are going to have to give him a feeding tube soon if he does not start to eat. He had an ultra sound yesterday that showed up an abnormality on the thyroid and the spleen. So they took a biopsy of the spleen today and did some other test on the thyroid. Now we have to wait, thats the part that is killing me and seeing him so miserable. I am heart broken as I can not bear the thought of losing him, but there is hope that its operable. I am going to take some cooked chicken up to him after work tonight and if he will eat I can at least take him home while we await the results of the many tests he has had to bear. He is like a pin cushion right now and he is shaved in many places also and he has been so good and brave and has not objected to any of it. My thoughts are with you and I know exactly what your going though right now.

 

[Storri]

I am so sorry that both of you are having problems with your babies right now. We will keep them both in prayer and hope that all turns out okay.

Take care and stay strong.