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Your puffy-looking, sluggish dog may have a thyroid problem.
Hypothyroidism is caused by a thyroid hormone deficiency in the body. People suffering from low thyroid levels may feel sluggish or gain weight
easily. The same holds true in dogs. But affected pets may display other symptoms because the thyroid hormone, known as thyroxine, affects just about
every organ in the body.
Hypothyroidism most often occurs when a dog's immune system destroys its thyroid gland, which is located just below the throat. This condition is
called autoimmune hypothyroidism. In other dogs, the thyroid gland wastes away, and the cause is unknown. Occasionally, hypothyroidism is present at
birth and leads to a form of dwarfism.
Although hypothyroidism is rare in cats, the symptoms resemble those seen in dogs. In a few cases, hypothyroidism occurs in cats treated for an
overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). Cats rarely have the form of hypothyroidism that leads to dwarfism.
Risk Factors and Detection
Middle-aged dogs are at higher risk for autoimmune hypothyroidism, and females are twice as susceptible. Breeds that are predisposed to this
condition include Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Labrador retrievers, Doberman
Pinschers, Miniature Schnauzers, Irish Setters, Poodles, Dachshunds, Boxers, Great Danes, Shetland
Sheepdogs, chows, Bulldogs, Airedales, Pomeranians, and Old English
Sheepdogs.
No particular breed or gender is linked to the rare congenital form of hypothyroidism, which prevents normal development. Affected dogs are much
smaller than their littermates, have large heads and short legs, and usually
maintain their puppy hair coat. Avoid breeding dogs who have any form of hypothyroidism because the condition may be hereditary.
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