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Canine Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Canine Autoimmune Thyroiditis. An Overview for Dog Breeders. Canine Hypothyroidism. A thyroid condition in which a dog ’ s thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone

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Canine Autoimmune Thyroiditis

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  1. Canine Autoimmune Thyroiditis An Overview for Dog Breeders

  2. Canine Hypothyroidism • A thyroid condition in which a dog’s thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone • This can cause obesity, sluggishness, hair loss, cold intolerance, weakness, skin disease, a poor coat, infertility and even failure to thrive in puppies • Hypothyroidism is primarily caused by a genetic disease known as Canine Autoimmune Thyroiditis

  3. A Tale of Two Dogs: Hypothyroid Normal

  4. How does this affect my dogs? • Canine Autoimmune Thyroiditis is hereditary so a dog inherits the disease from the sire or dam • Some hereditary diseases are easily controlled through selective breeding practices. However autoimmune thyroiditis does not usually show symptoms until years after a dog is bred. • This means a single untested dog born with Canine Autoimmune Thyroiditis can have many litters before it develops the first symptoms, passing the disease along to its pups

  5. Hypothyroid Symptoms Hair loss and/or hair pulling up from the roots easily Patches of scaly or red skin Lethargy and slowness Obesity Cold sensitivity (Cold intolerance) Lameness …and in breeding dams * Chester & Hightower • Reproductive problems • Decreased number of pups • Decreased puppy viability • Decreased birth weight • Higher interval between deliveries • Longer duration of uterine contractions * Panciera et al., J Vet Int Med, 2012

  6. How common is thyroid disease in my breed? • Canine Autoimmune Thyroiditis is much more common in some breeds than others. High incidence breeds include Irish Setters, Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Shetland Sheepdogs, Beagles, and Dobermans. • However, this disorder is found in virtually all dog breeds.

  7. What can we do to reduce the incidence of thyroid disease? • Hypothyroidism cannot be diagnosed with only a total assay of T4 (Thyroxine.) Broader profiles that include FT4, TSH, TgAA, and T3 are more specific in diagnosing thyroid disease. • Thyroglobulin Autoantibody (TgAA) is produced when a dog’s immune system attacks its own thyroid. Hence, TgAA has been shown to be a reliable test to help you identify the disease years before it becomes clinically apparent. • This information may help you make better informed decisions when breeding, by selecting sires and dams with the healthiest qualities in the future generations of your breed. “Breed to Improve”

  8. Thyroglobulin Autoantibody (TgAA) is produced by dogs in the early stages of Canine Autoimmune Thyroiditis. These dogs typically develop symptoms from 3 to 6 years of age! • Idiopathic Hypothyroidism: Some older dogs with thyroid disease (low T4, high TSH), have low levels of TgAA after the thyroid is destroyed. But, by then, the disease is readily apparent.

  9. What the TgAA results mean • Negative: The dog has no antibodies to TgAA. • NOTE: Young dogs may still develop thyroid disease, so it is best to screen them regularly if they are in a breeding program. • TgAA levels may also decline in older dogs (over 7 years) with thyroid disease (e.g. idiopathic thyroiditis) • Positive: The dog has thyroid disease and should not be bred. • NOTE: in some rare cases, a positive result may be due to non-specific binding (NSB) of dog antibodies to the test matrix. OFA approved laboratories will confirm positive results by performing a Non-specific binding test, and report only true positive results. • Inconclusive: The levels of TgAA are slightly elevated • Is the elevated TgAA due to thyroid disease? • If the NSB is high the apparent elevation may be caused by something else – like recent vaccination. • If the NSB is very low, and the dog is young, it may be an early sign of autoimmune thyroid disease. We recommend NOT breeding the dog and testing again in 6 months.

  10. How can we help? • The Oxford Laboratories TgAA test has been widely validated and used for over 20 years for the diagnosis of canine autoimmune thyroiditis. It is recognized by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals for inclusion of dogs in its thyroid registry. • The TgAA test, and thyroid test panels work very well - but they are not inexpensive, and dogs in breeding programs should be tested regularly. • The TgAA screening kit is easy to use and can help you check for this disease on a regular basis.

  11. The TgAA screening kit • Easy to use, without the need for a veterinary visit. The kit provides everything you need for a preliminary screening at home. • When trimming a dog’s nails, have the test kit handy. • When bleeding occurs, apply the test card to the site and completely fill each printed circle on the test card with blood. • Complete the information on the test card and the information sheet. • Place everything in the envelope and mail it in. • Results are typically send to you within 10 days.

  12. Resources • Oxford Laboratories website • Prevalence of Thyroid Disease in Pedigreed Dogs • TgAA screening kit • Orthopedic Foundation for Animals website • OFA breed statistics for major health issues • Contact info: Oxford Laboratories • http://www.oxfordlabs.com/ • E-mail: Info@oxfordbiomed.com • Phone: 800-692-4633 • Website: http://www.oxfordlabs.com/

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