Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Forelimb lameness and muscle disease in hypothyroid dogs
By Budsberg, S C et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1993·Department of Small Animal Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Thyroxine-responsive unilateral forelimb lameness and generalized neuromuscular disease in four hypothyroid dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Four dogs were brought in for limping on their front leg, and after thorough examinations, they were found to have generalized muscle issues linked to low thyroid hormone levels. The dogs were diagnosed with hypothyroidism and started on L-thyroxine, a thyroid hormone replacement. Within two months, their limping improved significantly, and follow-up tests showed that three of the dogs had normal muscle activity. However, when the medication was stopped for two of the dogs, their limping returned, but it resolved again when they resumed treatment.
People also search for: dog limping front leg · hypothyroidism in dogs · L-thyroxine for dogs · dog muscle problems treatment
Abstract
Four dogs were examined because of unilateral forelimb lameness. For all dogs, results of physical examination, including complete neurologic examination, were unremarkable except for vague, intermittent signs of pain upon deep palpation of the affected limb. During electromyography, insertional activity, fibrillation potentials, and positive sharp waves were recorded symmetrically from all major muscle groups. Generalized neuromyopathy was diagnosed. All dogs were determined to be thyroid deficient, and L-thyroxine supplementation was initiated. The lameness resolved within 2 months in all dogs. During follow-up electromyography, abnormalities were not recorded from 3 of the dogs and were less severe in the fourth. Thyroxine supplementation was discontinued in 2 dogs, and lameness redeveloped. Lameness again resolved when supplementation was reinstituted.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8320155/