Dog Parathyroid Tumor

Owning any type of pet, whether it is a dog or a cat, comes with many responsibilities and costs. One of those costs is caring for a sick dog, especially when their sickness is due to a type of Dog Cancer. One of the more common forms of cancer in dogs is parathyroid tumors. Parathyroid tumors, once found, are usually benign, which means they cannot kill the dog since they are not malignant. A parathyroid tumor can cause a dog to experience Dog Increased Thirst, as well as Dog Increased Urination. Once the tumor has been found and surgery has been performed, the prognosis for the animal is usually very good.

Signs and Symptoms

The dog breeds that usually develop a parathyroid tumor are the Keeshond, Labrador Retriever, and the German Shepherd Dog. Ten percent of dogs that are affected by parathyroid tumors will also have multiple tumors in their bodies. Because the tumors are mostly benign they will not spread to other areas of the dog’s body. Aside from increased urination and thirstiness, other symptoms of parathyroid tumors include the following:

•Dog Lethargy

•Weakness

•Poor appetite or Dog Loss of Appetite

•Straining to urinate

•Inability to pass urine

•Blood in the urine

•Dog Vomiting

•Dog Diarrhea

Treatment Options

Parathyroid tumors are located in the neck, which means they cannot be felt for the most part in dogs due to the excess skin around their neck. If your dog has been diagnosed with a parathyroid tumor, surgery is usually the best treatment option. Once surgery is complete, painkillers will be prescribed to help your dog breath and sleep more comfortably. Make sure you limit your dog’s activities for at least three weeks following the surgery.

Prognosis

Close to 50 percent of dogs that have a parathyroid tumor removed will suffer from low calcium levels, which can be fatal if not treated immediately. Symptoms of low calcium levels include the following:

•Rubbing of the face

•Dilation of the pupils

•Loss of an appetite

•Twitching muscles

•Dog Seizures

•Weakness

Some dogs will have trouble with bowel movements after the surgery for various reasons that may include the following:

•Dog had to fast prior to surgery and has an empty stomach

•The dog did not eat well during the hospital stay

•The dog does not eat well upon returning home

•The dog is fed food that is highly digestible, which means they do not have much stool

•The dog is taking pain medication that causes Dog Constipation

Make sure you do not let your dog lick the area where the surgery took place. Licking the area of the surgery can cause multiple problems such as:

•Incision can open

•Stitches can be removed

•Licking can turn into a habit that can be difficult to break

•A dog’s mouth has a lot of bacteria and licking can cause an infection of the surgery area

Prevent licking by using a cervical collar, which can prevent your dog from getting their tongue on the surgery area.

Suggested Products

Nu-Pet Vitamin & Antioxidant Wafers
Cancer Support Kit – Dogs

Additional Dog Cancer Pages

Dog Cancer | Dog Skin Cancer | Dog Bladder Cancer | Dog Pancreatic Cancer | Dog Bone Cancer | Dog Cancer Prevention | Dog Cancer Diagnosis | Dog Lymphoma Cancer | Dog Gastric Cancer | Dog Mast Cell Tumors