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Hypothyroidism And Increased Cortisol Secretion In Dogs

By Tess Thompson

It is often easy to miss out on some of the symptoms that surface in your dog. Since dog has given companionship, loyalty and affection to humans, the least that man can do is to ensure that their pets are healthy and well taken care of.

Sometimes symptoms like excessive urination, hair loss and too much of huffing and puffing can be the first warning signs of endocrinal diseases like Cushing’s disease or hypothyroidism.

Disturbances in the required levels of thyroid hormones cause hypothyroidism (less secretion of hormone) or hyperthyroidism (increased secretion).

Most cases of hypothyroidism in dogs results from an autoimmune system dysfunction. This affects the lymphocytes causing them to decreases in size in some cases.

Hyperthyroidism is extremely rare in dogs. But in most cases, the underlying cause almost always is a cancerous tumor in the thyroid.

The symptoms of hypothyroidism are vague and not easily discernable. Signs like decreased activity, fluid retention, swelling, infections in ear or skin and muscle weakness may not always result in the diagnosis for hypothyroidism. But it is always advisable to seek professional consultation to completely rule out thyroid dysfunction.

Once identified, the treatment of a diseased thyroid gland in dogs is easy. If a thyroid gland is secreting a lower than required quantity of hormones, all that one needs to administer is- inexpensive synthetic thyroid hormone pills. It is best done under the care of a qualified professional so that the correct dose is arrived at by looking at successive blood tests.

One symptom of hypothyroidism that needs special mention is hair loss. Loss of hair or change in coat can also indicate hyperadrenocorticism in a dog.

Cushing’s disease in dogs is caused by disturbances in the amount of secretions done by the adrenal gland. These disturbances are serious prove to be fatal if not controlled in time. 

Increase in secretion of cortisol is a harbinger of more trying times. They indicate the presence of a tumor that is probably hampering the interaction between the pituitary and adrenal glands. The loss of interaction results in an increased level of cortisol. Cushing’s disease in dogs requires an extremely complicated treatment. In many cases it is recommended that no treatment be followed. The advice is to try to make the dog’s life comfortable for as long as he lives.

Endocrinal glands secrete hormones that are responsible for the dedicated functions of the body. Hormonal secretions of thyroid gland maintain the metabolic rate that is the rate at which the dog’s body burns calories. Adrenal glands, on the other hand, secrete cortisol hormone that is responsible for healthy functioning of the nervous system and control stress.

References:
http://www.2ndchance.info/doghypothyroid.htm
http://www.sniksnak.com/doghealth/hyperthyroidism.html