Canine lymphosarcoma and hypercalcaemia: clinical, laboratory and pathologic evaluation of twenty‐four cases

Twenty‐four dogs with lymphosarcoma and hypercalcaemia were studied clinically, haematologically and biochemically. There was no age or breed predilection, although the St Bernard dog appeared to be over‐represented. Male dogs were more frequently affected (62 per cent) than female dogs. Anorexia, weight loss, muscular weakness, depression, polydipsia, polyuria, and bilateral peripheral lymphadenopathy were the most frequently observed clinical signs and physical findings. Hypercalcaemia, creatinaemia, azotaemia, hypercalciuria, hyposthenuria, and decreased endogenous creatinine clearance were the most frequent laboratory abnormalities. Detailed gross and histopathologic examinations of 10 dogs revealed the multicentric anatomic form of lymphosarcoma, absence of skeletal metastases, and normal parathyroid glands. The dogs were clinically staged, and ten were histologically classified. Histologic staging revealed five diffuse histiocytic lymphomas, and five diffuse lymphocytic poorly differentiated lymphomas.