thyroid disease in the dog

Question 1

What are the effects of the thyroid hormones?

Answer 1

metabolism- increases metabolic rate
infant growth- cretinism
hair growth- activates anagen

Question 2

What are non-thyroid influences on thyroid hormones?

Answer 2

physiological- age, breed, sex, time of day, year, obesity etc

therapeutic- steroids, potentiated sulphonamides, diuretics

pathological- sick euthyroid syndrome

Question 3

What are causes of hypothyroidism?

Answer 3

primary= lymphocytic thyroiditis, idiopathic atrophy

secondary= TSH failure- pituitary tumour

iodine deficiency

Question 4

Describe congenital hypothyroidism

Answer 4

breeds= boxer and giant schnauzer

signs= cretinism, hypothyroidism, disproportionate dwarfism

Question 5

Describe primary adult hypothyroidism

Answer 5

breeds= golden retriever, labs, dobermann, boxers

ages= young adult to old age

any sex

Question 6

What are the clinical signs of hypothyroidism?

Answer 6

• lethargy
• obesity
• cold intolerance
• bradycardia
• alopecia
• pale mm
• hypothermia

Question 7

How can the diagnosis of hypothyroidism be confirmed?

Answer 7

high TSH
high cholesterol
low PCV
high triglycerides

Question 8

What levels of total T4 would indicate hypothyroidism?

Answer 8

0-14 nmol/l

Question 9

What breeds are known to have low T4?

Answer 9

greyhounds

Question 10

Describe thyroid stimulation tests

Answer 10

TSH stimulation

Question 11

What is used for the treatment of hyperthyroidism?

Answer 11

sodium levothyroxine