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A dog is receiving thyroid supplement but hypothyroidism was never initially diagnosed. How can I determine if this dog is really hypothyroid?

April 26, 2017determine diagnosed dog Hypothyroid Hypothyroidism initially supplement Thyroid

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A dog is receiving thyroid supplement but hypothyroidism was never initially diagnosed. How can I determine if this dog is really hypothyroid?

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Once an animal is receiving thyroid hormone medication, thyroid testing can only tell if that medication appears to be well absorbed. No comment can be made about the patient’s endogenous thyroid functional status. Because of the suppressive effects of thyroid medication on endogenous thyroid hormone production in normal dogs, a withdrawal period of 6 weeks with no thyroid supplement is recommended before a diagnostic sample can be taken. After 6 weeks of no thyroid supplement, the dogs’ endogenous thyroid status can be assessed, and is free from interference by thyroid medication.