What is the thyroid gland?
The thyroid gland, located near the trachea, produces thyroxine (T4), a major thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormones have far-reaching effects on the body by regulating metabolic rate. The pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain, regulates thyroid gland function with a hormone called TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone).
What is a thyroid test used for in dogs?
A thyroid test is a blood test that evaluates the thyroid gland's function. It can be used to determine whether there is a normal or low level of thyroid hormone in dogs. This test is recommended any time a pet is sick and is frequently used as a screening test for underlying illness or disease. Normal results aid in determining health and excluding certain diseases.
If your dog is prone to bleeding, the vet will take extra care to ensure no hemorrhaging occurs at the sample site.
How are thyroid tests performed on dogs?
When performing thyroid tests for dogs, your vet will take a blood sample, place it into a glass tube and use a centrifuge to separate it into its different parts, mainly the blood cells and serum/plasma.
The plasma is extracted and sent to a laboratory for testing, while the blood clot is discarded. While certain animal hospitals have diagnostic capabilities for interpreting the data on-site, many rely on sending the sample to a lab.
A thyroid test usually takes 40–60 minutes at a veterinary hospital. If given to an outside laboratory, the results can be expected within one to two days.
Most dogs do not require sedation or anesthesia. However, sedation may be required in some instances, such as when the dog reacts poorly to needles.
What are the different types of thyroid hormone testing for dogs?
Here are some of the most common types of thyroid hormone testing performed on dogs:
T4 & T3 Hormone Testing
Total T4 (Thyroxine) and Total T3 (Triiodothyronine) testing can be used to screen dogs for hypothyroidism. Unexpectedly high levels of either hormone may indicate autoantibodies and T3 and T4 concentrations can be influenced by various factors, including medications, disease states, and nutrition.
Free T4 by lmmulite or by Equilibrium Dialysis
A valid assay for measuring free T4 (FT4) can be used to distinguish true hypothyroidism from euthyroid sick condition (changes in serum thyroid hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels). The non-protein-bound thyroxine, FT4, is found in lower concentrations in the blood than total T4. For accurate FT4 testing, a method should be used to separate the protein-bound hormone from the free (unbound) hormone.
The Equilibrium Dialysis (ED) method is the gold standard test for dogs and is known for being more accurate. This type of testing requires an overnight incubation in buffer and dialysis cells to separate bound T4 from free T4. The Immulite method is less expensive and faster than the ED method, producing results comparable to dialysis. Thyroid supplementation should be monitored using FT4 in any dog known or suspected to have thyroid autoantibodies, as these tests remove the autoantibody effects.
Thyroglobulin Autoantibody (TgAA) Test
The TgAA test is a canine-specific test indicating whether there is likely immune-mediated (lymphocytic) thyroiditis. This test is used with others when diagnosing thyroid-related conditions and illnesses. Thyroglobulin autoantibodies are involved in the synthesis of T4 and T3.
TSH measurement
The endogenous thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) can be measured in dogs. High levels of endogenous thyroid-stimulating hormone suggest hypothyroidism, but normal or low endogenous thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in dogs do not necessarily rule it out. Your vet will perform other types of thyroid testing along with this one to ensure accuracy.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.