This is
the most common endocrine disease in dogs and is known to
appear in Cocker Spaniels. The thyroid gland controls the
metabolic rate of the dog's body and symptoms of this disease are related to a slowed
metabolism. The symptoms are numerous and varied as almost all body
systems can be affected by a slowed metabolism.
|
|
| |
|
BEHAVIORAL |
sudden aggression
towards other animals or people, irritability/moodiness, fearfulness,
submissiveness, anxiety, hyperactivity, compulsiveness, head tilt, depression,
flighty behavior. |
|
|
|
METABOLIC |
mental dullness, sluggishness, intolerance of
exercise, unexplained weight gain, cold intolerance, seizures, stunted
growth. |
|
|
|
DERMATOLOGIC |
dry skin, itching,
darkening and/or thickening of the skin, dandruff, ear infections, skin infections,
chronic foul odor of the skin, excessive shedding, hair loss, seborrhea. |
|
|
|
REPRODUCTIVE |
infertility, lack
of libido, testicular atrophy, absence of estrus or prolonged periods
between cycles, false pregnancy, stillborn pups or pups that fail to
thrive. |
|
|
|
NEUROMUSCULAR |
megaesophagus,
head tilt, facial paralysis, drooping eyelids, laryngeal paralysis,
muscle wasting, stiffness, weakness. |
|
|
|
HEMATOLOGIC |
low red blood
cell, white blood cell and platelet counts, failure of bone marrow,
bleeding. |
|
|
|
GASTROINTESTINAL |
diarrhea,
constipation, vomiting. |
|
|
|
CARDIAC |
arrhythmias,
cardiomyopathy, slow heart rate. |
|
|
|
ASSOCIATED DISORDERS |
loss of
smell/taste, chronic hepatitis, adrenal/pancreatic/parathyroid
indocrinopathies. |
Hypothyroidism is the result of the dog's body being unable to produce the
correct amount of thyroid hormone to maintain normal body functions.
Autoimmune thyroiditis is reportedly the cause of about 50% of canine
hypothyroidism. Other causes can be idiopathic (unknown cause), hindrance
of the gland by a space-occupying tumor or from a pituitary disorder.
Diagnosis
can sometimes be difficult as illness, reproductive hormones, drugs, obesity and even
extremes of temperature which the dog may have been exposed to can affect
the accuracy of testing. Testing should be conducted when the dog is
otherwise healthy, has not been on any medications, 30-60 days after
vaccination and females should not be tested when they are in or approaching
a heat cycle (recommended 12 weeks after cycle). Symptoms
usually appear somewhere between 1 & 5 years of age. A blood
test can indicate that a dog has the POTENTIAL for this disease before
actual clinical signs are present, but a clear test at a young age does not
guarantee that a dog will not develop the disease later.
Testing
should include the measurement of T3, T4, Free T3, Free T4, T3
Auto-Antibody, T4 Auto-Antibody, TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) and
TgAA (Thyroglobulin Auto-Antibodies). The interpretation of the
testing is very important as the correct balance of hormones is quite
complex and "normal" ranges can vary by breed, size, age and individual.
Treatment
generally consists of twice daily doses of levothyroxine (T4).
Treatment for dogs that are unable to convert T4 to T3, will also require a
triiodothyronine (T3) supplement. Dosage is based on the dog's weight.
Re-testing to check for correct hormone levels should be done after 30-60
days of treatment and every 6-12 months for dogs on long-term therapy.
With proper treatment and life-long management, most thyroid disease
symptoms should clear up and your dog should be able to live a normal,
active life without significant loss of life expectancy .
|
for
further information about Cocker Spaniels.
