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Hypothyroidism Research Paper

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Introduction

Hypothyroidism is defined by a reduction in the release of the main thyroid hormones, Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones are essential in the homeostatic maintenance in the area of metabolic function (PetMD, 2017). This condition is not life-threatening and is usually very inexpensive to treat (WebMD, 2017). While there are many causes for hypothyroidism, the common causes include shrinking of the thyroid gland, tumors or cancer of the thyroid, congenital disease, iodine deficiency, and sometimes even an autoimmune issue where the body attacks its own thyroid. The risk for this disease appears to increase when the animal is spayed or neutered for currently unknown reasons (WebMD 2016). This condition is most …show more content…

The most common symptoms include unexplainable weight gain, lethargy, and inattentiveness. If the dog has been experiencing long term, unmanaged hypothyroidism then it may also demonstrate skin thickening, dry and dull hair, frequent skin infections, and cold intolerance (Andrews, 2008). Some rare symptoms may include head tilting, seizures, and infertility. If a canine exhibiting a combination of these symptoms is presented to a veterinarian, testing may be performed in order to obtain a diagnosis. A physical exam and blood panel are crucial to eliminate possible issues not pertaining to the thyroid. Some vets may be able to make a diagnosis based on these results, but often times an endocrine panel will need to be performed to test the T3 and T4 levels in order to make an accurate hypothyroidism diagnosis. Some veterinarians will diagnose the dog with this condition is it matches at least 3 symptoms and demonstrates no obvious signs of abnormalities in the physical exam and blood work in order to save the owner money (PetMD, 2017). According to Dr. Dodds, T4 should 1.60-3.80µg/dL T3 should be 35-70ng/dL in a healthy dog. In a study done by Daminet and Paradis in 2000, hypothyridic dogs had T4 levels as low as 0.26µg/dL. Due to the late manifestation of this condition, often times dogs do not exhibit any symptoms until around 4 years of age. Dogs with genetic …show more content…

As more is studied about the thyroid gland, it has become clear that iodine helps in its function and a diet lacking in it may be a significant cause of the thyroid gland malfunctioning and not producing enough hormones. Ensuring a dog’s diet contains adequate amounts of iodine will keep its thyroid active. Tyrosine intake must also be closely monitored. Since obesity is a symptom of hypothyroidism, it is important to control weight gain by switching the dog to a low calorie, low carbohydrate food (Andrews, 2017). It is important to consult a veterinarian when wanting to use a natural thyroid support product due to the fact that if these are used with the medication, it may actually cause the disease to progress instead of stopping it (Mercola,

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