Multiple Myeloma in a 10-Year-Old German Shepherd Dog
This case seminar is on a 10-year-old, male castrated German Shepherd Dog that had presented through Cornell’s Emergency Service on 10/20/2016 with a chief complaint of rapidly progressive paraparesis, inappetence, weight loss, and historic hypercalcemia (increased ionized calcium) and hyperglobulinemia. Initial imaging studies revealed numerous polyostotic bone lesions within the axial skeleton. The dog was hospitalized and transferred to the Oncology service, in which further imaging and diagnostic assays were performed. With results of bloodwork, serum electrophoresis, cytology, bone marrow evaluation, and imaging studies, the dog fulfilled criteria for a definitive diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma is a neoplasm of plasma cells that often causes several paraneoplastic syndromes, such as hyperviscosity syndrome, lytic bone lesions, and renal injury. The dog was started on cyclophosphamide and prednisone and received palliative radiation therapy of the lumbar vertebrae. Several days after the initiation of treatment, the dog became ambulatory, was less painful, and had an increased appetite. After discharge, the dog was transitioned to a melphalan and prednisone protocol. The dog is currently in remission.