Tertiary Hypothyroidism in a Dog
February 2007
in “
Irish Veterinary Journal
”
TLDR A dog with a pituitary tumor developed tertiary hypothyroidism, improved with treatment, but was later euthanized due to neurological issues.
A nine-year-old Labrador was diagnosed with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism and later developed symptoms such as weight gain, seborrhoea, and alopecia after mitotane therapy. Tests showed low thyroxine levels but normal TSH, and MRI revealed a pituitary mass. The dog was diagnosed with tertiary hypothyroidism, a condition not previously reported in dogs. After four weeks of levothyroxine treatment, the dog's cholesterol levels decreased, and its weight and skin condition improved. However, the dog was euthanized four months later due to neurological issues, and a post-mortem examination revealed a pituitary adenoma affecting the hypothalamus.
