AFGHANS ARE US -HEALTH

 CANINE AUTO-IMMUNE THYROID DISEASE
Antech Diagnostics Update - important please read

Hound Alert Thyroid Function

  Greyhounds and other sighthound breeds (e.g. Afghan hound, saluki, borzoi, Scottish deerhound, whippet) typically have basal levels of thyroid hormones at or even just below the lowest limits of the adult normal reference ranges for most other breeds. This situation has been largely overlooked, and is particularly noteworthy because of the relatively large numbers of retired racing greyhounds that are adopted as pets. The appropriate diagnosis of hypothyroidism in these dogs may be difficult to make, especially during the immediate post-adoption period when the animal may be in less than optimal health and is undergoing the stress of relocation and adjustment to a pet home. However, clinically evident hypothyroidism also exists in a subset of these dogs and is responsive to thyroid supplement. The dosage of replacement levothyroxine needed for hypothyroid sighthounds is typically about one-half of the twice-daily dosage given to other dog breeds (i.e. 0.1 mg per 20 lbs. body weight BID). Post-pill test levels should ideally be about or just below mid-range at 4-6 hours after the morning medication.

The clinical situation is complicated further by the common assumption that the pattern baldness ("bald thigh syndrome") commonly seen in adult greyhounds of racing stock background is caused by hypothyroidism or some other endocrine imbalance. The bald thigh presentation is a bilaterally symmetrical, nonpruritic alopecia of the caudal and lateral aspects of the thighs. Recent study of a large group of intact male and female racing greyhounds found no differences in the concentrations of thyroid hormones or testosterone between affected bald and unaffected control dogs, even though the racing females are routinely given testosterone injections to suppress estrus. Thus, the bald thigh syndrome of these dogs should not be attributed to hypothyroidism or testosterone levels.

References: Beale, KM, Bloomberg, MS, Van Gilder, J. Wolfson, BB. Keisling, K. Correlation of racing and reproductive performance in greyhounds with response to thyroid function testing. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 196: 263-269, 1991; Dodds, WJ. More information on hematologic characteristics of greyhounds. J Am Vet Med Assoc 206: 1312, 1995; Cowan, LA, Refsal, KR, Nachreiner, R., Schoning, P. Thyroid hormone and testosterone concentrations in racing greyhounds with and without bald thigh syndrome. J Vet Int Med 11(2):142, 1997. 		 

 

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