Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dogs with large pituitary tumors have lower heart rate and body
By Benchekroun, Ghita et al.·Published in Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)·2017·Unité, France·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Dogs with macroadenomas have lower body temperature and heart rate than dogs with microadenomas.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Dogs with pituitary macroadenomas, a type of tumor affecting the pituitary gland, often have lower heart rates and body temperatures compared to those with smaller tumors. In a study of dogs diagnosed with Cushing's disease, those with macroadenomas showed heart rates below 84 beats per minute and body temperatures below 38.3°C. These signs can help veterinarians identify the presence of a macroadenoma, especially in dogs showing vague neurological symptoms. Recognizing these differences can lead to better diagnosis and treatment options for affected dogs.
People also search for: dog Cushing's disease symptoms · low heart rate in dogs · dog pituitary tumor signs
Abstract
Pituitary macroadenomas compress the hypothalamus, which partly regulates heart rate and body temperature. The aim of this study was to investigate whether heart rate and/or body temperature could aid in clinically differentiating dogs with macroadenomas from dogs with microadenomas (i.e. small non-compressive pituitary mass). Two groups of dogs diagnosed with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (i.e. Cushing's disease) were included. Heart rate and body temperature were collected on initial presentation before any procedure. Dogs with macroadenoma had a significantly lower heart rate and body temperature (P<0.01) compared to dogs with microadenoma. We suggest that the combined cut-off values of 84 beats per minutes and 38.3°C in dogs with Cushing's disease, especially with vague neurological signs (nine of 12 dogs=75%), might help to suspect the presence of a macroadenoma.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29031329/