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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 9, 2026

A Semi-Automated and Reproducible Biological-Based Method to Quantify Calcium Deposition In Vitro

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A Quick Reference on Hypercalcemia.

Joao Felipe de Brito Galvão¹, Patricia A Schenck², Dennis J Chew³

¹VCA Arboretum View Animal Hospital, 2551 Warrenville Road, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA.

The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Small Animal Practice

|December 26, 2016

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Hypercalcemia in dogs is most often caused by neoplasia, while cats commonly experience idiopathic hypercalcemia. Identifying the underlying cause is crucial for effective prognosis and treatment strategies.

Keywords:

Complexed calcium Hypercalcemia Hyperparathyroidism Hypervitaminosis D Ionized calcium Malignancy-associated hypercalcemia Protein-bound calcium Total calcium

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Area of Science:

Veterinary Medicine
Internal Medicine
Endocrinology

Background:

Hypercalcemia, elevated calcium levels in the blood, is a significant clinical finding in both canine and feline patients.
Understanding the common etiologies of hypercalcemia is essential for accurate diagnosis and patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

To outline the most frequent causes of hypercalcemia in dogs and cats.
To emphasize the importance of identifying the specific cause for treatment and prognosis.

Main Methods:

Review of common causes of hypercalcemia in veterinary medicine.
Comparative analysis of hypercalcemia etiologies in dogs versus cats.

Main Results:

In dogs, neoplasia is the leading cause of hypercalcemia, followed by primary hyperparathyroidism, chronic kidney disease, and hypoadrenocorticism.
In cats, idiopathic hypercalcemia is the most prevalent cause, succeeded by chronic kidney disease and neoplasia.

Conclusions:

The differential diagnoses for hypercalcemia vary significantly between dogs and cats.
Determining the underlying etiology of hypercalcemia is paramount for guiding appropriate therapeutic interventions and predicting patient outcomes.