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    Hypothyroidism

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    wael orabi
    Hypothyroidism is a common disease in dogs that causes weight gain, lethargy, skin changes, and other clinical signs. It occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism. Diagnosis involves screening for low thyroid hormone levels through a total T4 test, and confirming with additional endocrine tests such as TSH stimulation. Treatment is lifelong supplementation of the missing thyroid hormones through oral levothyroxine medication.

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    Hypothyroidism

    Uploaded by

    wael orabi
    36 views2 pages
    Hypothyroidism is a common disease in dogs that causes weight gain, lethargy, skin changes, and other clinical signs. It occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism. Diagnosis involves screening for low thyroid hormone levels through a total T4 test, and confirming with additional endocrine tests such as TSH stimulation. Treatment is lifelong supplementation of the missing thyroid hormones through oral levothyroxine medication.

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    Hypothyroidism is a common disease in dogs that causes weight gain, lethargy, skin changes, and other clinical signs. It occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism. Diagnosis involves screening for low thyroid hormone levels through a total T4 test, and confirming with additional endocrine tests such as TSH stimulation. Treatment is lifelong supplementation of the missing thyroid hormones through oral levothyroxine medication.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    36 views2 pages

    Hypothyroidism

    Uploaded by

    wael orabi
    Hypothyroidism is a common disease in dogs that causes weight gain, lethargy, skin changes, and other clinical signs. It occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism. Diagnosis involves screening for low thyroid hormone levels through a total T4 test, and confirming with additional endocrine tests such as TSH stimulation. Treatment is lifelong supplementation of the missing thyroid hormones through oral levothyroxine medication.

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    Canine Hypothyroidism

    Hypothyroidism is common in older dogs but can be congenital (cretinism) in rare


    cases. On a board exam, you should be able to recognize the signs of
    hypothyroidism in dogs, choose appropriate diagnostic tests, and know about the
    treatment. This PowerPage highlights those key aspects of this disease.

    Key Points
    ● Key clinical signs include weight gain, lethargy, alopecia, pyoderma, and other skin changes.
    ● Diagnostic screening is typically performed with basal T4 levels but should often be confirmed with
    additional endocrine tests.
    ● Treatment is with synthetic thyroid hormone (levothyroxine) orally.

    Relevant Pathophysiology
    Hypothyroidism most commonly occurs in dogs due to lymphocytic thyroiditis. The most common cause
    of misdiagnosis is suppressed hypothalamic-pituitary stimulation of the thyroid due to illness (euthyroid
    sick syndrome). The thyroid gland synthesizes the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine
    (T3) which incorporate iodine. The hormones are responsible for a wide range of physiologic effects, but
    most importantly they increase metabolic rate, oxygen consumption, heart rate, erythropoiesis, and
    catecholamine response. They have catabolic effects on muscle and adipose tissue.

    Clinical Signs
    ● Weight gain, obesity
    ● Lethargy
    ● Alopecia – often bilaterally symmetric over the lateral trunk, tail, and ventral thorax
    ● Pyoderma, hyperkeratosis, seborrhea, hyperpigmentation
    ● Bradycardia, weak pulses, low voltage ECG complexes

    © 2018 VetPrep.com • All rights reserved. 1


    Canine Hypothyroidism

    Diagnosis
    ● Common abnormalities on routine blood work and diagnostics include:
    a. Mild non-regenerative anemia
    b. Hypercholesterolemia
    ● Serum total T4 level is the preferred screening test for hypothyroidism (normal ranges vary by lab)
    ● Dogs with normal T4 levels are not hypothyroid; dogs with low T4 levels may be hypothyroid but
    this should be confirmed by at least one of the following:
    a. Treat any identified underlying conditions
    b. cTSH and free T4 by equilibrium dialysis levels
    i. Hypothyroid dogs should have increased cTSH and low free T4
    c. TSH stimulation test
    i. Hypothyroid dogs should have low T4, even after TSH stimulation
    d. Trial of T4 replacement therapy and assess response

    Treatment
    ● Oral administration levothyroxine
    a. Optimal dosing varies among dogs and T4 levels should be evaluated after beginning
    therapy and while treatment is maintained. The dose should be calculated based on the
    dog’s ideal body weight.

    References
    ● Ettinger, Feldman- Veterinary Internal Medicine 3rd ed pp 1419-1429

    © 2018 VetPrep.com • All rights reserved. 2

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