Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine hypothyroidism
- Journal:
- Companion Animal
- Year:
- 2015
- Authors:
- McCann, Theresa
- Affiliation:
- Davies Veterinary Specialists, Higham Gobion, Herts
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Canine hypothyroidism is a condition where a dog's thyroid gland doesn't produce enough hormones, which can lead to various health issues. Diagnosing this condition can sometimes be straightforward, but other times it requires careful consideration of the dog's symptoms and ruling out other possible problems. To confirm the diagnosis, veterinarians look for low levels of certain thyroid hormones along with high levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, but these results can also appear in healthy dogs that are sick for other reasons. When managed properly, dogs with hypothyroidism can see a significant improvement in their symptoms and overall quality of life.
Abstract
A diagnosis of canine hypothyroidism can be straightforward in many cases, but in others reaching a conclusive diagnosis can be challenging. Careful attention to the potential presenting signs of hypothyroidism, as well as to alternative diagnoses for the clinical signs, is important prior to testing thyroid function. A total thyroxine or free thyroxine below the reference range along with an elevated thyroid stimulating hormone provides the greatest specificity for diagnosis, but these results can also be seen in euthyroid sick animals. Using all of the available information reduces the chance of a false-positive diagnosis and therefore unnecessary lifelong treatment. Management of hypothyroidism can be very rewarding. A well-managed dog with hypothyroidism should have resolution of clinical signs and hence an improved quality of life.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://doi.org/10.12968/coan.2015.20.10.572