Successful therapeutic management of canine hypothyroidism in a spitz dog

A ten-year-old neutered female spitz dog was presented to the Dermatology Unit of Madras Veterinary Teaching Hospital with the complaint of chronic dermatitis, erythematous scaly lesions, generalized alopecia and pruritis. On clinical examination bradycardia was noticed. Examination of integumentary system revealed bilateral symmetrical alopecia, epidermal collarette, pustules and rat tail appearance. Thyroid profile revealed low Total T4. Based on clinical signs and thyroid profile the case was diagnosed as hypothyroidism. The animal was treated with Tab. Levothyroxine @ 0.01mg/kg body weight BID for 10 days and gradually increased to 0.02 mg/kg body weight BID and supplemented with oral Palmitoylethanolamide. After one month of treatment the animal showed clinical recovery and the owner was adviced to maintain the pet on oral levothyroxine.