Thyroid
Autoimmune thyroiditis is the most common cause of primary hypothyroidism in dogs. The disease has variable onset, but tends to clinically manifest itself at 2 to 5 years of age. Dogs may be clinically normal for years, only to become hypothyroid at a later date. The marker for autoimmune thyroiditis, thyroglobulin autoantibody formation, usually occurs prior to the occurrence of clinical signs. Therefore, periodic retesting is recommended.
This condition is the result of an abnormally low production of Thyroid hormones. Affected animals appear to have a low metabolic rate and are comparatively "easy keepers," requiring small amounts of dietary intake as compared to their size.
Clinical signs vary in intensity with each individual case; dry, coarse and/or sparse coats, ocular discharge, pale mucous membranes, good appetites with normal or above normal weight, mental dullness, slower awkward gai and / or is a greasy coat with skin exudate (or a yellowish colored dandruff). Diagnosis is made through a blood sample, and treatment is effective in most cases with the oral administration of synthetic thyroid tablets.
The majority of dogs that develop autoantibodies have them by 3 to 4 years of age. Development of autoantibodies to any time in the dog’s life is an indication that the dog, most likely, has the genetic form of the disease. Using today's technology only a small fraction of false positive tests occur.
As a result of the variable onset of the presence of autoantibodies, periodic testing will be necessary. Dogs that are negative at 1 year of age may become positive at 6 years of age. Dogs should be tested every year or two in order to be certain they have not developed the condition. Since the majority of affected dogs will have autoantibodies by 4 years of age, annual testing for the first 4 years is recommended. After that, testing every other year should suffice. Unfortunately, a negative at any one time will not guarantee that the dog will not develop thyroiditis.
From: http://www.offa.org/thygeninfo.html
Unfortunately, this condition is frequently misdiagnosed by veterinarians because the tests available for evaluating thyroid conditions are not very specific and can be inaccurate for a true diagnosis. However, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) has recently initiated a Canine Thyroid Registry which, upon submission of a blood sample, will certify the donor clear of hereditary Autoimmune Thyroiditis and Idiopathically Reduced Thyroid Function (non-genetic). Autoimmune Thyroiditis is the most common cause of primary hypothyroidism in dogs. Due to the variable onset of the presence of autoantibodies, periodic testing is necessary. It is recommended that dogs be tested annually up to the age of four and every other year thereafter. Since this registry is relatively new, it is doubtful that many breeders will have certified breeding stock at this time. However, it is hoped that this certification will become more prevalent in the future.
The Alaskan Malamute will sometimes exhibit a condition affecting the coat, which is commonly referred to as "coat funk". This condition is often misdiagnosed as hypothyroidism, yet thryoid supplementation does not correct the symptoms. Affected dogs will exhibit a dry, brittle guard coat sparsely covering a "woolly" looking under coat. The coat does not fall out, nor does the dog "blow coat" like normal. Damaged guard hairs do not regenerate and the dog begins to look similar to a sheep with a malamute head. Dogs will appear normal in youth, sometimes not exhibiting symptoms until five or six years of age. To date, no conclusion has been reached as to hereditability or cure.
Health Information
http://www.itsfortheanimals.com
Independent Thyroid Register for Alaskan Malamutes
http://www.malamutethyroidreg.com/
Canine Thyroid Database
http://www.malamutehealth.org/articles/hypothyroidism_ofa_thyroid.htm
Thyroid
http://www.offa.org/thyinfo.html
Information on Thyroid Disorders
http://www.thedca.org/thyroid.html
HEMOPET: Your Source for Life
http://www.hemopet.org/
Hypothyroidism
http://www.provet.co.uk/health/diseases/hypothyroidism.htm#b
Canine Thyroid Disease
http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/AntechThyroid.htm
Hypothyroidism in the dog
http://www.newmanveterinary.com/Hypothyroid.html
This condition is the result of an abnormally low production of Thyroid hormones. Affected animals appear to have a low metabolic rate and are comparatively "easy keepers," requiring small amounts of dietary intake as compared to their size.
Clinical signs vary in intensity with each individual case; dry, coarse and/or sparse coats, ocular discharge, pale mucous membranes, good appetites with normal or above normal weight, mental dullness, slower awkward gai and / or is a greasy coat with skin exudate (or a yellowish colored dandruff). Diagnosis is made through a blood sample, and treatment is effective in most cases with the oral administration of synthetic thyroid tablets.
The majority of dogs that develop autoantibodies have them by 3 to 4 years of age. Development of autoantibodies to any time in the dog’s life is an indication that the dog, most likely, has the genetic form of the disease. Using today's technology only a small fraction of false positive tests occur.
As a result of the variable onset of the presence of autoantibodies, periodic testing will be necessary. Dogs that are negative at 1 year of age may become positive at 6 years of age. Dogs should be tested every year or two in order to be certain they have not developed the condition. Since the majority of affected dogs will have autoantibodies by 4 years of age, annual testing for the first 4 years is recommended. After that, testing every other year should suffice. Unfortunately, a negative at any one time will not guarantee that the dog will not develop thyroiditis.
From: http://www.offa.org/thygeninfo.html
Unfortunately, this condition is frequently misdiagnosed by veterinarians because the tests available for evaluating thyroid conditions are not very specific and can be inaccurate for a true diagnosis. However, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) has recently initiated a Canine Thyroid Registry which, upon submission of a blood sample, will certify the donor clear of hereditary Autoimmune Thyroiditis and Idiopathically Reduced Thyroid Function (non-genetic). Autoimmune Thyroiditis is the most common cause of primary hypothyroidism in dogs. Due to the variable onset of the presence of autoantibodies, periodic testing is necessary. It is recommended that dogs be tested annually up to the age of four and every other year thereafter. Since this registry is relatively new, it is doubtful that many breeders will have certified breeding stock at this time. However, it is hoped that this certification will become more prevalent in the future.
The Alaskan Malamute will sometimes exhibit a condition affecting the coat, which is commonly referred to as "coat funk". This condition is often misdiagnosed as hypothyroidism, yet thryoid supplementation does not correct the symptoms. Affected dogs will exhibit a dry, brittle guard coat sparsely covering a "woolly" looking under coat. The coat does not fall out, nor does the dog "blow coat" like normal. Damaged guard hairs do not regenerate and the dog begins to look similar to a sheep with a malamute head. Dogs will appear normal in youth, sometimes not exhibiting symptoms until five or six years of age. To date, no conclusion has been reached as to hereditability or cure.
Health Information
http://www.itsfortheanimals.com
Independent Thyroid Register for Alaskan Malamutes
http://www.malamutethyroidreg.com/
Canine Thyroid Database
http://www.malamutehealth.org/articles/hypothyroidism_ofa_thyroid.htm
Thyroid
http://www.offa.org/thyinfo.html
Information on Thyroid Disorders
http://www.thedca.org/thyroid.html
HEMOPET: Your Source for Life
http://www.hemopet.org/
Hypothyroidism
http://www.provet.co.uk/health/diseases/hypothyroidism.htm#b
Canine Thyroid Disease
http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/AntechThyroid.htm
Hypothyroidism in the dog
http://www.newmanveterinary.com/Hypothyroid.html