The effects of hypothyroidism on selected aspects of dog health and behaviour

<ns3:p>Hypothyroidism can disrupt the functioning of a dog’s body at virtually every level, so the range of symptoms is essentially unlimited, which in many cases can make diagnosis difficult. Therefore it is crucial to be able to distinguish thyroid dysfunction from other conditions with similar symptoms, such as atopic dermatitis. For this reason it is worth knowing a variety of diagnostic methods making it possible to rule out or confirm a diagnosis. Periodic examination and observation of dogs are important. At the early stage of the disease, there may not be symptoms perceptible to dog owners. Cases have been reported in which dogs present no symptoms, but hypothyroidism has been diagnosed on the basis of diagnostic tests. Over time, the disease may progress and require an increase in the dose of hormone supplementation, which should motivate dog owners to regularly monitor thyroid function. Behaviour and symptoms exhibited by dogs may be associated with other conditions as well as with age or behavioural disorders not necessarily associated with thyroid dysfunction.</ns3:p>