Hyperparathyroidism


  • Well, it's relatively good news in that the result of this morning's blood test indicates that the problem is an excessively low level of calcium. This is despite my having given him a higher than usual dose of calcium/vitD tablets after his seizure yesterday. The answer for now is to supplement the normal number of tablets with extra vitD - we are getting hold of those soon. Meanwhile he seems happier today has started eating again.

    I will update when we've seen how he progresses. By the way, his name is Bing (after Chandler!) and our bitch is Rosie, aged 7, because of her colour - red(ish!). We also have Poppy a 9 year-old Great Dane bitch, Pepsi, a blue Burmese cat (neutered queen), Zach, a 25 year-old Westphalian gelding (German warmblood) and Sassy, a 13 year-old Morgan mare and Buzzy (they both are - as named!), her 5 year-old gelded son!

    Thank you all again. How do I upload pics on this forum please?


  • I would, I think, definitely contact Dr. Dodds. She is absolutely great at thyroid issues.

  • Houston

    I googled hyperparathyroidism when your post came up and that is one of the things they talked about on the different site's I saw..good to know that you have an answer..what now? They were talking about, of course potential diet change, adding bicarbs and other meds to the dogs regimen.


  • I'm so relieved that your vet has found an answer for the fits and I hope your boy continues to improve. You have quite a big animal family there - sounds great. Welcome to this great forum from the UK. I look forward to seeing your pictures.


  • There's one big red face here. Bing has hypoparathyroidism, the result of an auto-immune problem. This results in under-absoption of calcium, hence the need for the calcium/vitD supplement. I understand that it is incurable so we can only hope to stabilise it. At least we should be able to stop the dreadful seizures.

    I was truly amazed to have had an almost instant response from Jean Dodds, despite her currently travelling internationally. Even more impressive was her immediate response to my subsequent reply! A truly dedicated lady….

  • Houston

    Wonderful to hear that you got in contact with her. She seems like the greatest person to have on your side if thyroid issues are in the mix.
    I hope you will find the correct treatment and that Bing will be back to his old self before you know it.


  • @mramsay:

    There's one big red face here. Bing has hyp_o_parathyroidism, the result of an auto-immune problem. This results in under-absoption of calcium, hence the need for the calcium/vitD supplement. I understand that it is incurable so we can only hope to stabilise it. At least we should be able to stop the dreadful seizures.

    I was truly amazed to have had an almost instant response from Jean Dodds, despite her currently travelling internationally. Even more impressive was her immediate response to my subsequent reply! A truly dedicated lady….

    We're glad to hear you know what's going on and hopefully can manage it successfully the rest of Bing's life. Yes, Jean is really great about helping with problems. Please keep us updated on how he's doing.


  • Glad you ,have got Bings problem identified. Hopefully once you have got him on the correct treatment things will settle down.
    Welcome to you and your family both human and animal to the forum. Re putting pics on when you have time look in the help section there is info about how to get pics on.


  • I've just uploaded 1 pic - of Bing (in happier days) & our wonderful Great Dane dog (Logan) who we lost just 4 years ago.


  • Very good news to hear that you know what Bing's problem's are able to help him I am so very happy for you. I liked reading abour your large family that sound very nice.
    My uncle was called Bing all his life hie real name was Gliva so I might have wanted to use Bing. We have a tree in our front yard that my Uncle grew from a nut off his tree and we call our tree Uncle Bing.
    Take great care and there will be happy days once again for Bing.

    Rita Jean

    Rita Jean


  • Lovely pic of Bing and Logan


  • Thankfully, little Bing had a quieter day - no more seizures or twitches. He even began hunting round the kitchen floor for any morsels dropped by Pepsi the cat!

    The next challenge is to get him to eat more but at least he's doing better than yesterday in that respect.


  • @mramsay:

    Thankfully, little Bing had a quieter day - no more seizures or twitches. He even began hunting round the kitchen floor for any morsels dropped by Pepsi the cat!

    The next challenge is to get him to eat more but at least he's doing better than yesterday in that respect.

    That's great news! :)Thanks for the update as we are always concerned when there's a sick or lost pet.

  • Houston

    I agree, that is great news..every little step in the right direction..


  • Thanks for the update Mike, glad Bing is doing better


  • Okay, well, hypO makes more sense for a dog than hypER. (Dogs are almost always hypO and cats are almost hypER.) HypO is where the body is not making enough; hypER is the body making too much. And, just for a little good news, it's usually easier to deal with a hypO situation than a hyper. You just add to what the body is doing, whereas it is much more difficult to supress something the body is doing. (hope all that made a grain of sense.)

    And I'm glad to hear Bing is on the upswing.

    As far as eating:
    http://www.maryshouse.us/Recipes.htm
    my pups love the muttloaf; i make about 1/2 at a time. may want to add some probiotics to help.

    Good luck and let us know how it goes.


  • Actually Agile…in the case of Bing it is HyperPARA not just hypeR...quite a bit more complicated. ;) In humans they many times do surgery.


  • I'm relieved that Bing now has a diagnosis, at least he can have treatment and be able to manage it somewhat. It's good to hear that he is on an upswing.

    renaultf1 - what does Hyperpara mean in the terms of a disease?


  • Opps, i thought the OP came back and said it was hypOpara, not hyperpara?

    I don't know anything about the *para part, but I do know it is almost always easier to add than supress a body's production of hormones.


  • Agile…my bad, it is hypo...but still para.

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