Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
White Swiss Shepherd puppy with pituitary dwarfism and hormone
By Schils, Gaëlle et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2025·Small Animal Department·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Pituitary Dwarfism and Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Deficiency in a White Swiss Shepherd Dog With LHX3 Mutation.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 9-week-old female White Swiss Shepherd was brought in for growth issues and diagnosed with pituitary dwarfism due to a genetic mutation. Over the next two years, she developed persistent high levels of certain white blood cells, indicating a problem with hormone production. Tests confirmed she had low levels of a hormone called ACTH, which is important for stress response. The vet treated her with prednisolone, a type of steroid, which helped improve her energy and activity levels. This case highlights the importance of monitoring hormone levels in dogs with dwarfism to ensure they receive proper treatment.
People also search for: puppy growth problems · White Swiss Shepherd dwarfism · ACTH deficiency treatment in dogs · prednisolone for dogs · dog hormone deficiency symptoms
Abstract
LHX3 mutation in dogs is associated with combined pituitary hormone deficiency. However, ACTH secretion is usually preserved. A 9-week-old female White Swiss Shepherd dog presented with growth retardation and was diagnosed with pituitary dwarfism due to LHX3 mutation. In the 2 years after diagnosis, the dog developed persistent lymphocytosis and eosinophilia. Endogenous ACTH measurement, ACTH stimulation test, and CRH stimulation test confirmed pituitary hypocortisolism. The dog was administered physiological doses of prednisolone, with improvement of activity levels. These findings are similar to scarce human reports and suggest that corticotrope function might decline over time in dogs with LHX3 mutations. Awareness and screening for ACTH deficiency in dwarf dogs is important in light of compatible clinical signs and laboratory abnormalities, as treatment with glucocorticoids improves the quality of life of these dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40833232/