Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is one of the most common hormonal diseases in dogs. The thyroid gland produces too few hormones (especially T4), which are important for the entire metabolism. Typical signs are weight gain despite a normal amount of food, tiredness and reduced playfulness, skin and coat problems, increased sensitivity to cold and sometimes changes in behavior.

As these symptoms can also occur in many other diseases, a measurement of thyroid hormones alone (especially T4 and TSH) is often not sufficient for a reliable diagnosis. A low T4 level in the blood does not automatically mean hypothyroidism – other non-thyroidal illnesses (NTI) or certain medications can also lower T4. In addition, various interfering factors can distort the measurements.

In order to gain more clarity in unclear cases – such as suspected hypothyroidism with low T4 but unchanged TSH – additional tests are now available at Laboklin. The determination of the thyroid hormone rT3 (reverse T3) provides additional information as to whether an altered hormone status is more consistent with a genuine hypothyroidism or can be explained by another underlying disease (NTI). In addition, thyroid hormones can be determined using a particularly precise mass spectrometric measurement method known as LC-MS/MS. This technique is less susceptible to interference and gives a very reliable picture of the actual hormone concentrations.

Based on the clinical findings of your veterinarian, these modern analyses help to avoid unnecessary or too late thyroid therapy and thus to find the best possible, individually suitable treatment for your dog.

If you have any questions, please contact your veterinary practice or veterinary clinic – they will be happy to help you.