The aim of this study was to determine serum magnesium concentrations in dogs with benign and malignant tumors of the perianal glands. The magnesium concentration was determined in samples taken from 45 tumor-affected and 17 healthy males. Twenty one dogs suffered from malignant tumors (Malignant group), while benign changes were diagnosed in 24 cases (Non-malignant group). All dogs with neoplastic disease were treated with antiandrogens and antiestrogens. Determination of magnesium concentrations in serum obtained from dogs before the start of treatment (baseline), and one and six months later was performed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. One-way ANOVA and the post-hoc Tukey's HSD test were used to compare differences between the groups investigated and time-related changes. Significantly higher serum magnesium concentrations were found in the group with malignant tumors when compared to the control and non-malignant groups (P<0.001). Serum magnesium concentrations in dogs with non-malignant neoplastic changes had increased gradually by 17% and 41% at one and six months when compared to the baseline values (P<0.05). In conclusion, the malignant neoplastic process in dogs was associated with a higher baseline serum magnesium concentration. Thus, determination of the serum magnesium concentration might be helpful for diagnostic differentiation between malignant and benign perianal tumors in dogs.
Keywords: dogs; magnesium; perianal tumors; serum.