Swanbridge Vets - Yorkshire - Animal & Equine Veterinary ...



Hypothyroidism in DogsWhat 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.47148755715What 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:Weight gainThinning of the coatscaly skinWeaknessExercise intoleranceInfertilityHow 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 413385030480000be 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.center6122670The Swanbridge Veterinary Group, Tranby Lane, Swanland, HU143NG. Tel: 01482 633888, Fax: 01482 634 576, Email: info@ ................
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