Diet recommendations for a hypercalcaemic dog?

RE: Diet recommendations for a hypercalcaemic dog?

marlies bohm — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 16:42:55 GMT

treated a Spaniel a few years ago with paraneoplastic hyperCa (anal sac adenocarcinoma that was resected and regrew). Initially got fancy with bisphosphanates but they stopped working after 5 infusions, then switched to frusemide as a calciuretic (he'd had pancreatitis a couple of x and had high lipids so didn't want to risk pred). He stayed on his normal diet but with added pumpkin so he could poop around his anal sac mass (and the lymph node mets). Maybe the pumpkin also helped bind Ca? Just checked: he did 2 years just with frusemide to control calcium.

RE: Diet recommendations for a hypercalcaemic dog?

Lucy Fleming — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 11:52:35 GMT

Sorry I kept forgetting to look the case up - recommendation was for a high fibre wet diet and additional fibre in the form of psyllium husk. I presume the wet was primarily to promote lower USG and reduce the risk of any urolith fomation.

This dog ticked along fairly happily for 2+ years under our care before moving to a different vet. Total Ca+ was gradually trending upwards but we didn't check ionised very frequently. The owner also wasn't very compliant on following recommendations and I don't think she fed the high fibre diets for that long as she didn't like the stool size that resulted.

RE: Diet recommendations for a hypercalcaemic dog?

Anthony Dennison — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 13:37:19 GMT

Adding Chia seeds to diet can help limit dietary absorption of Calcium too

RE: Diet recommendations for a hypercalcaemic dog?

Rob Loxley — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 21:37:48 GMT

Have managed a couple with alendronic acid tablets

RE: Diet recommendations for a hypercalcaemic dog?

Yantha Smyth — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 09:47:25 GMT

Indeed, as well as the definitive treatment options I am also exploring an alternative medical management approach as an alternative, but doing nothing at all could still be an option.

RE: Diet recommendations for a hypercalcaemic dog?

Yantha Smyth — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 09:41:22 GMT

Good to know, thank you for this.

RE: Diet recommendations for a hypercalcaemic dog?

Yantha Smyth — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 09:40:24 GMT

Thanks Lucy I would be interested to know either way.

RE: Diet recommendations for a hypercalcaemic dog?

Beats — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 07:47:03 GMT

I've never noticed much morbidity from the disease other than being PUPD. the low phosphorous means i doubt they are at much risk of renal calcification risks etc?

Removing the gland is really fun, but would it extend the life expectancy or improve the quality of life in a 13yr+ dog? Not convinced.

RE: Diet recommendations for a hypercalcaemic dog?

David Mills — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 18:15:46 GMT

You can avoid surgery with ethanol ablation. It depends how confident you are but can be done under sedation and ultrasound guidance. I've done 3 or 4 successfully

Paper here describing the technique:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26383753/

Relatively high success rate if it's due to parathyroidsim.

I'm based Hertfordshire way, would normally charge about £600 for it including sedation / GA

RE: Diet recommendations for a hypercalcaemic dog?

Lucy Fleming — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 15:33:26 GMT

I had a similar patient a few years ago, and I seem to remember she was recommended GI food - I think for fibre content to bind dietary calcium? (It was recommended by the referral clinicians that diagnosed primary hyperparathyroidism)

I'll try to look up her case on Tuesday when I am back at work, if you don't get anything more useful before then. Can't tell you whether it was successful I'm afraid, the owner was one of the least compliant I've ever had and didn't feed it for long. Kept coming back to have her calcium regularly checked though, while ignoring all the recommendations to treat it.