Auto-Immune Disease - Hypothyroidism
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| Definition / Overview | Causes / Symptoms | Hypothyroidism |
| Pemphigus | Canine Lupus | Auto-Immune Hemolytic Anemia |
About Hypothyroidism in Dogs
When a dog suffers from an auto-immune disease, he or she is at risk for several ailments, most commonly Hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a common disorder in middle-aged to older dogs, characterized by thyroid hormone production.
Thyroid hormones affect almost every organ in the body and thus many signs of this disease are common. These include lethargy, depression, obesity (despite normal feeding amounts), hair loss, skin and ear infections, and weak or torn knee ligaments. Should this disease be suspected, initial screening blood work is performed. Dogs that are hypothyroid have thyroid levels that are almost always below the normal range.
Puppies with severe forms of congenital hypothyroidism are said to have Cretinism. These usually have developmental defects of the pituitary gland and are stunted mentally, and, with time, are malformed physically.
Breeds Commonly Affected by Hypothyroidism
Many breeds are commonly affected by this disease: Boxers, Cocker Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, Labs, Poodles, Dachshunds, and Miniature Schnauzers. It is likely that some breeds are genetically predisposed. There is no difference in frequency of occurrence between males and females.
Additional Symptoms of Hypothyroidism in Dogs
In addition to the symptoms listed above, some of the other signs of Hypothyroidism include lethargy, mental dullness or behavioral changes, increased weight gain/obesity, cold intolerance (seeking of warm places), poor wound healing, poor skin and hair coat (including hair loss or abnormal hair turnover, or dull or brittle hair), altered pigmentation, oily or dry skin, thickened skin with a "sad" facial expression, odiferous skin that may be pruritic (itchy) because of secondary bacteria, and/or yeast dermatitis/pyoderma (superficial infections) with or without concurrent demodecosis (skin parasite). The last group of symptoms includes seizures, cranial nerve deficits (blind and/or droopy eyelids, or dry irritated red eyes due to paralysis of eyelids), and decreased tear production, which causes eye surfaces to be dry and irritated. In rare cases, the dog might act "drunk", endure swallowing problems, or endure general weakness.
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