A brain tumor in a dog took away its sense of thirst
Original title: Severe Hypernatraemia Secondary to Adipsia Associated With a Pituitary Macroadenoma in a Dog: A Case Report.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was done in animals, not people. Most findings at this stage never become treatments.
This was a report about one dog, not people.
The short version
Vets found that a tumor near a dog's brain stopped it from wanting to drink water.
What was studied. This is a report about one dog, a 9-year-old male mixed breed. The dog was tired, would not eat, was sick to its stomach, and did not drink water on its own.
What they found. Blood tests showed far too much salt in the dog's blood. A scan then found a large tumor on the gland at the base of the brain. The tumor pressed on the brain area that controls thirst. After fluids and medicine, the tumor got a little smaller, and the dog's salt levels stayed steady for nine months with help drinking water.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: A tumor in this part of the brain can change how the body feels thirst. If a person or pet stops feeling thirsty, it is worth telling the care team.
What it doesn't mean: This does not mean a new treatment is coming. It was one dog, not a person, and one case cannot prove what happens in people. It is very far from everyday care, and it is not a promise of a cure.
Source: PubMed, September 1, 2026 · Read the original
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