Monitoring canine hypothyroidism.

Re: Monitoring canine hypothyroidism.

Mark Holmes — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 20:51:55 GMT

[quote user="Clive Ansell"]

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]

I don't understand the merit of checking TSH when on supplemental T4.

[/quote]

If T4 is low, how else would one differentiate between sick euthyroid syndrome and genuine underdosing?

[/quote] But I don't see how testing TSH in a supplemented animal does. It's rare to get a textbook high TSH low T4 hypothyroid even without medication. Most hypothyroid dogs have blown out their TSH before they are diagnosed. I had assumed in euthyroid sick dogs T4 was depressed due to reduced production not excess metabolism, hence if supplementing sick euthyroid syndrome shouldn't occur and any low value is under dosing. I also think you need to monitor on clinical signs as much as blood values anyway, some dogs will be fine at "sub theraputic" levels.

Re: Monitoring canine hypothyroidism.

Clive Ansell — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 19:39:43 GMT

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]

I don't understand the merit of checking TSH when on supplemental T4.

[/quote]

If T4 is low, how else would one differentiate between sick euthyroid syndrome and genuine underdosing?

Re: Monitoring canine hypothyroidism.

Mark Holmes — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 15:28:20 GMT

I don't understand the merit of checking TSH when on supplemental T4.