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Updated: Jun 6, 2026
Hyperpolarized 13C Metabolic Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Imaging
Published on: December 30, 2016
Prospective evaluation of clinically relevant type B hyperlactatemia in dogs with cancer
M Touret1, S R Boysen, M E Nadeau
1Department of Oncology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada. mtouret@uoguelph.ca
Background:
Cancer is considered a cause of type B hyperlactatemia in dogs. However, studies evaluating cancer as a cause of clinically relevant type B hyperlactatemia (>2.5 mmol/L) are lacking. Cancer cells have a higher lactate production because of increased aerobic glycolysis, known as the “Warburg effect.” The mechanisms through which aerobic glycolysis occurs are not well elucidated, but neoplasia may cause type B hyperlactatemia via this process.
Objectives:
To determine if malignant tumors of dogs are associated with clinically relevant type B hyperlactatemia (>2.5 mmol/L).
Animals:
Thirty-seven client-owned dogs with malignant tumors: 22 with hematopoietic and 15 with solid tumors.
Methods:
Histology was used to confirm the diagnosis (cytology was considered adequate for diagnosis of lymphoma). Confounding conditions associated with hyperlactatemia were excluded. Lactate measurements were immediately performed on free-flow jugular whole blood samples using the LactatePro analyzer.
Results:
All dogs had lactate concentrations<2.5 mmol/L. Mean blood lactate concentration was 1.09 mmol/L. Mean blood lactate concentrations for solid and hematopoietic tumors were 0.95 and 1.19 mmol/L, respectively. Dogs with lymphoma (n=18) had a mean blood lactate concentration of 1.15 mmol/L.
Conclusions:
Malignant tumors were not considered a cause of clinically relevant type B hyperlactatemia. Therefore, cancer-related type B hyperlactatemia in dogs is uncommon, and hyperlactatemia should prompt careful investigation for causes other than cancer.