Thyroid Function Evaluation in Canine Health
Summary
Thyroid function evaluation in dogs centres on the accurate measurement of circulating hormones and interpretation of their interplay with clinical signs. Total thyroxine (TT4) and free thyroxine (fT4) concentrations, together with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, constitute the core panel for assessing thyroid status. Variations in binding proteins, concurrent illnesses and certain medications can all distort test results, leading to potential misdiagnosis of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Recent advances have focused on improving assay accuracy, delineating the impact of non-thyroidal illness and developing predictive models to support clinical decision-making. A robust evaluation strategy integrates serial measurements, consideration of confounding factors, and, where indicated, more sophisticated methods such as equilibrium dialysis or predictive algorithms. This multifaceted approach enhances diagnostic confidence and informs appropriate therapeutic intervention, with direct implications for animal welfare and breeding management worldwide.
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Thyroid Function Evaluation in Canine Health publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in thyroid function evaluation in canine health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Total thyroxine (TT4): The combined concentration of bound and unbound thyroxine in serum, reflecting overall thyroid hormone pool.
Free thyroxine (fT4): The unbound fraction of thyroxine available to tissues, considered the biologically active component.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): A pituitary glycoprotein that regulates thyroid hormone synthesis and release via feedback control.
Non-thyroidal illness (NTI): A systemic disorder not originating in the thyroid gland that can transiently alter thyroid hormone concentrations without true thyroid pathology.
References
- Influence of medications on thyroid function in dogs: An update. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (2023).
- Free thyroxine measurement by analogue immunoassay and equilibrium dialysis in dogs with non-thyroidal illness. Research in Veterinary Science (2022).
- Qualitative and semiquantitative assessment of thyroid hormone binding proteins in greyhounds and other dog breeds. Domestic Animal Endocrinology (2021).
- Thyroid function tests during nonthyroidal illness syndrome and recovery in acutely ill dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (2023).
- Development and internal validation of diagnostic prediction models using machine-learning algorithms in dogs with hypothyroidism. Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2023).
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