Thyroid disorders in the geriatric veterinary patient

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2012 Jul;42(4):707-25, vi-vii. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2012.04.012.

Abstract

The effects of age, concurrent illness, and administered medications complicate diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction in geriatric patients. Interpretation of thyroid hormone testing should take these factors into account. The most common thyroid disorder in dogs is acquired hypothyroidism. Therapeutic monitoring should be utilized for monitoring treatment of canine hypothyroidism. The most common thyroid disorder in cats is benign hyperthyroidism. Diagnosis is most often complicated by the presence of concurrent illness. Treatment should be individualized based on individual case characteristics and presence of concurrent illness. Some older cats have a palpable goiter months to years before development of clinical signs of hyperthyroidism.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging / pathology*
  • Animals
  • Cat Diseases / blood
  • Cat Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Cat Diseases / drug therapy
  • Cats
  • Dog Diseases / blood
  • Dog Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Dog Diseases / drug therapy
  • Dogs
  • Thyroid Diseases / blood
  • Thyroid Diseases / diagnosis
  • Thyroid Diseases / drug therapy
  • Thyroid Diseases / veterinary*
  • Thyroid Function Tests / veterinary*
  • Thyroid Hormones / blood*

Substances

  • Thyroid Hormones