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Does my dog have hypothyroidism?
How is hypothyroidism diagnosed in dogs?
Do dogs with hypothyroidism need thyroid testing?
What causes hypothyroidism in dogs?
Can a TSH test detect hypothyroidism in dogs?
How is hypothyroidism diagnosed in cats?
When a dog suspected to have hypothyroidism has a low total T4 concentration, fT4 and/or TSH concentrations must be evaluated to help confirm or refute the diagnosis (TABLE 1). If the TSH concentration is high, hypothyroidism can be diagnosed.
Diagnosis. Hypothyroidism in dogs is diagnosed through a combination of symptoms, and blood tests. To begin with, your vet will want to rule out any other underlying problems, because other illnesses can cause a drop in thyroid levels, which can lead to a false diagnosis of hypothyroidism.
The diagnosis of canine hypothyroidism is challenging, as many clinical signs are non-specific and identified in dogs with other non-thyroidal diseases. Additionally, the most commonly used assay, total thyroxine (T4), is non-specific and will decrease in many dogs without hypothyroidism.
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Learn everything you need to know about hypothyroidism in dogs, including risk factors, signs of the disease and how it gets diagnosed & treated.
A low level of TT4, along with the presence of clinical signs, is suggestive of hypothyroidism. Definitive diagnosis is made by performing a free T4 by equilibrium dialysis (free T4 by ED) or a thyroid panel that assesses the levels of multiple forms of thyroxin. If this test is low, then your dog has hypothyroidism.
The two most common causes of adult-onset primary hypothyroidism in dogs are lymphocytic thyroiditis and idiopathic atrophy of the thyroid gland. (Also see Autoimmune Thyroiditis in the Immunologic Diseases chapter.)
Scintigraphy using radioactive pertechnetate is the best tool to diagnose hypothyroidism, but it is expensive, requires anaesthesia and is limited to a few institutions (Scott-Moncrieff, 2010). The two main factors complicating the diagnosis are concurrent illnesses (NTI) and drug administration.
