Blood - For Thyroid Malfunction

The most common cause of primary hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) in dogs is autoimmune thyroiditis. Autoimmune thyroiditis is a heritable disease that is seen in all three varieties of Poodles, but is more common in Standard Poodles. This disorder may affect a dog at any age, but clinical signs are often seen in dogs between two to five years of age. Hypothyroidism is not generally a life-threatening disease, but it is a permanent condition. When diagnosed, the traditional, effective treatment is a daily, or twice daily, dose of a thyroid hormone replacement (synthetic L-thyroxine). Dogs with this condition should not be bred. Breeding animals should be tested yearly for the first four years and, after that, every other year. For more information, see: https://www.ofa.org/diseases/other-diseases/hypothyroidism

Blood sample.

Subsequent to sexual maturity in males, and between heat cycles (twelve to sixteen weeks following onset of heat) in females.

Thyroid testing is difficult to do correctly so only a few laboratories are recognized by the OFA. For a list of recognized laboratories, go to the OFA website at https://www.ofa.org/diseases/other-diseases/hypothyroidism/thyroid-labs.

An OFA Thyroid evaluation is one of four tests available to fulfill the health elective to obtain a CHIC number in Standard Poodles.