Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
High thyroid hormone levels in dogs eating raw food diets
By Köhler, B et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2012·Small Animal Clinic Hofheim, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Dietary hyperthyroidism in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old dog was brought in with symptoms like weight loss, restlessness, and rapid heart rate after being fed a raw food diet. Tests showed that the dog's thyroid hormone levels were significantly elevated, indicating dietary hyperthyroidism. After switching the dog to a different diet, the thyroid levels returned to normal, and the symptoms resolved. This case highlights the importance of discussing your pet's diet with your veterinarian if they show signs of thyroid issues.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of dogs with elevated plasma thyroxine concentration fed raw food before and after changing the diet. METHOD: Between 2006 and 2011 all dogs presented with an elevated plasma thyroxine concentration and a dietary history of feeding raw food were included. Thyroxine (reference interval: 19·3 to 51·5 nmol/L) and in many cases also thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations (reference interval: <0·30 ng/mL) were measured initially and after changing the diet. RESULTS: Twelve dogs were presented with a median age of five years. The median plasma thyroxine concentration was 156·1 (range of 79·7 to 391·9) nmol/L; in six dogs, thyroid-stimulating hormone concentration was measured and was <0·03 ng/mL in five dogs and 0·05 ng/mL in one dog. Six dogs showed clinical signs such as weight loss, aggressiveness, tachycardia, panting and restlessness while six dogs had no clinical signs. After changing the diet eight dogs were examined: thyroxine concentration normalised in all dogs and clinical signs resolved. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Dietary hyperthyroidism can be seen in dogs on a raw meat diet or fed fresh or dried gullets. Increased plasma thyroxine concentration in a dog, either with or without signs of hyperthyroidism, should prompt the veterinarian to obtain a thorough dietary history.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22931400/