Retrospective Evaluation of Sex Hormones and Steroid Hormone Intermediates in Dogs with Alopecia
March 2003
in “
Veterinary Dermatology
”
TLDR Most dogs with alopecia had higher than normal levels of certain hormones, but hair loss might not always be linked to these hormone changes.
The study retrospectively analyzed 783 samples from dogs with alopecia over 7.5 years, with 276 dogs meeting the inclusion criteria. It found that 73% of these dogs had at least one steroid hormone intermediate above the normal range, with progesterone being the most frequently elevated hormone (57.6% of samples). Breed-specific differences were observed, with Keeshonds having higher estradiol levels and Pomeranians and Siberian Huskies having higher progesterone levels. However, not all dogs within these breeds had hormone abnormalities, and some breeds like Chow Chows, Samoyeds, and Malamutes had a higher percentage of normal steroid hormone intermediates. There was a significant correlation between baseline cortisol concentrations and progesterone, 17-OHP, and androstenedione. The study concluded that alopecia in dogs might not always be related to steroid hormone intermediates and emphasized the need for breed-specific hormone ranges.
