Download Hypothyroidism in Dogs

Hypothyroidism in Dogs
What is hypothyroidism and what causes it?
The thyroid gland is responsible for the production of thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones
have many important functions within the body that include regulating your dog’s
metabolism and growth. The amount of thyroid hormones in your dog’s body are controlled
by two centres within the brain which tell the thyroid gland when it needs to produce more
thyroid hormones.
In hypothyroidism not enough thyroid hormones are produced by the thyroid gland. In 95%
of cases this is due to a problem with the thyroid gland. In these cases, the most common
reasons for the thyroid gland not functioning correctly is either due to an immune-mediated
disease called lymphocytic thyroiditis (where the body destroys the thyroid gland tissue) or
due the gland reducing in size through a process called idiopathic atrophy.
In rare cases, hypothyroidism can be due to other underlying problems such to a problem
with the control centres in the brain, a congenital defect or spread of a tumour from
elsewhere in the body.
There seem to be certain breeds that are more prone to hypothyroidism such as the Golden
Retriever and the Doberman pinscher.
What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?
Most dogs are diagnosed with the condition at around 7 years of age
but it can be found in younger and older dogs too. There are a range
of different symptoms associated with hypothyroidism, some of the
most common signs can be found below:
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Weight gain
Thinning of the coat
scaly skin
Weakness
Exercise intolerance
Infertility
How is hypothyroidism diagnosed?
Hypothyroidism is diagnosed based on your dog’s symptoms and in conjunction with several
different blood tests. We will usually carry out a routine blood test for signs of anaemia and
raised cholesterol which may be found with hypothyroidism. We will then usually follow this
up with an assessment of the thyroid hormone levels. In some cases, we may need to
undertake several different hormone tests to confirm the diagnosis.
How is hypothyroidism treated?
Hypothyroidism is a treatable but not curable condition. It
can usually be successfully managed with daily medication
in the form of tablets or oral liquid. The exact dose your
dog will require will initially be based on your dog’s weight
but to ensure we are dosing correctly we will need to
recheck your dog’s thyroid levels six weeks after starting
the medication. In some cases we will then need to
increase or decrease the medication accordingly. After the
initial diagnosis and once we are happy with the dose of
medication your dog is on, we recommend rechecking the
thyroid levels every 2-3 months for the first year then every
six months if the condition is stable.
How will the disease progress?
You should start to see an improvement in your dog’s energy levels within 1-2 weeks of
starting treatment. After several months you should start to notice some weight loss and a
gradual improvement in the hair regrowth (although this may take many months to get back
to normal). Depending on the underlying cause and how well the condition is controlled
your dog could go on to live to a normal life-span. This is why it is particularly important to
see us for regular check-ups and continual monitoring of your dog’s thyroid levels.
The Swanbridge Veterinary Group, Tranby Lane, Swanland, HU143NG.
Tel: 01482 633888, Fax: 01482 634 576, Email: [email protected]