Behavior in dogs with spontaneous hypothyroidism during treatment with levothyroxine

Alenka Hrovat; Tiny De Keuster; Hans S Kooistra; Luc Duchateau; Mark A Oyama; Kathelijne Peremans; Sylvie Daminet

doi:10.1111/jvim.15342

Behavior in dogs with spontaneous hypothyroidism during treatment with levothyroxine

Alenka Hrovat, Tiny De Keuster, Hans S Kooistra, Luc Duchateau, Mark A Oyama, Kathelijne Peremans, Sylvie Daminet

Small Animal Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 108, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: [email protected].
Ghent University
University of Pennsylvania
Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Thyroid hormone supplementation anecdotally has been described as a valid treatment option for dogs with aggression-related problems. However, prospective, controlled, and blinded trials evaluating behavior and neurohormonal status in hypothyroid dogs during treatment with levothyroxine are lacking.

OBJECTIVE: Levothyroxine supplementation will have a significant influence on the behavior and neurohormonal status of dogs with spontaneous hypothyroidism.

ANIMALS: Twenty client-owned dogs diagnosed with spontaneous hypothyroidism.

METHODS: This prospective study was to evaluate the behavior of dogs, which was screened at initial presentation, and after 6 weeks, and 6 months of treatment with levothyroxine (starting dosage 10 μg/kg PO q12h) using the standardized Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ). At each time period, circulating serotonin and prolactin (PRL) concentrations were evaluated using a commercially validated ELISA kit and heterologous radioimmunoassay, respectively.

RESULTS: After 6 weeks of thyroid hormone supplementation, C-BARQ scores demonstrated a significant increase in activity of hypothyroid dogs (P < .01). No significant change in any of the behavioral signs was observed after 6 months of treatment. No significant difference in circulating concentrations of serotonin (P > .99 and P = .46) and PRL (P = .99 and P = .37) were noted between the 6-week and 6-month periods compared with baseline.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The results of this study indicate increased activity of hypothyroid dogs after 6 weeks of thyroid hormone supplementation. None of the hypothyroid dogs in this cohort showed a significant change in any of the evaluated behavioral signs and neurohormonal status after 6 months of thyroid hormone supplementation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	64-71
Journal	Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Volume	33
Issue number	1
Early online date	30 Nov 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15342
Publication status	Published - Jan 2019

Keywords

canine
prolactin
serotonin
thyroid supplementation

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title = "Behavior in dogs with spontaneous hypothyroidism during treatment with levothyroxine",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Thyroid hormone supplementation anecdotally has been described as a valid treatment option for dogs with aggression-related problems. However, prospective, controlled, and blinded trials evaluating behavior and neurohormonal status in hypothyroid dogs during treatment with levothyroxine are lacking.OBJECTIVE: Levothyroxine supplementation will have a significant influence on the behavior and neurohormonal status of dogs with spontaneous hypothyroidism.ANIMALS: Twenty client-owned dogs diagnosed with spontaneous hypothyroidism.METHODS: This prospective study was to evaluate the behavior of dogs, which was screened at initial presentation, and after 6 weeks, and 6 months of treatment with levothyroxine (starting dosage 10 μg/kg PO q12h) using the standardized Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ). At each time period, circulating serotonin and prolactin (PRL) concentrations were evaluated using a commercially validated ELISA kit and heterologous radioimmunoassay, respectively.RESULTS: After 6 weeks of thyroid hormone supplementation, C-BARQ scores demonstrated a significant increase in activity of hypothyroid dogs (P < .01). No significant change in any of the behavioral signs was observed after 6 months of treatment. No significant difference in circulating concentrations of serotonin (P > .99 and P = .46) and PRL (P = .99 and P = .37) were noted between the 6-week and 6-month periods compared with baseline.CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The results of this study indicate increased activity of hypothyroid dogs after 6 weeks of thyroid hormone supplementation. None of the hypothyroid dogs in this cohort showed a significant change in any of the evaluated behavioral signs and neurohormonal status after 6 months of thyroid hormone supplementation.",

keywords = "canine, prolactin, serotonin, thyroid supplementation",

author = "Alenka Hrovat and {De Keuster}, Tiny and Kooistra, {Hans S} and Luc Duchateau and Oyama, {Mark A} and Kathelijne Peremans and Sylvie Daminet",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2018 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.",

year = "2019",

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doi = "10.1111/jvim.15342",

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AU - Hrovat, Alenka

AU - De Keuster, Tiny

AU - Kooistra, Hans S

AU - Duchateau, Luc

AU - Oyama, Mark A

AU - Peremans, Kathelijne

AU - Daminet, Sylvie

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N2 - BACKGROUND: Thyroid hormone supplementation anecdotally has been described as a valid treatment option for dogs with aggression-related problems. However, prospective, controlled, and blinded trials evaluating behavior and neurohormonal status in hypothyroid dogs during treatment with levothyroxine are lacking.OBJECTIVE: Levothyroxine supplementation will have a significant influence on the behavior and neurohormonal status of dogs with spontaneous hypothyroidism.ANIMALS: Twenty client-owned dogs diagnosed with spontaneous hypothyroidism.METHODS: This prospective study was to evaluate the behavior of dogs, which was screened at initial presentation, and after 6 weeks, and 6 months of treatment with levothyroxine (starting dosage 10 μg/kg PO q12h) using the standardized Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ). At each time period, circulating serotonin and prolactin (PRL) concentrations were evaluated using a commercially validated ELISA kit and heterologous radioimmunoassay, respectively.RESULTS: After 6 weeks of thyroid hormone supplementation, C-BARQ scores demonstrated a significant increase in activity of hypothyroid dogs (P < .01). No significant change in any of the behavioral signs was observed after 6 months of treatment. No significant difference in circulating concentrations of serotonin (P > .99 and P = .46) and PRL (P = .99 and P = .37) were noted between the 6-week and 6-month periods compared with baseline.CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The results of this study indicate increased activity of hypothyroid dogs after 6 weeks of thyroid hormone supplementation. None of the hypothyroid dogs in this cohort showed a significant change in any of the evaluated behavioral signs and neurohormonal status after 6 months of thyroid hormone supplementation.

AB - BACKGROUND: Thyroid hormone supplementation anecdotally has been described as a valid treatment option for dogs with aggression-related problems. However, prospective, controlled, and blinded trials evaluating behavior and neurohormonal status in hypothyroid dogs during treatment with levothyroxine are lacking.OBJECTIVE: Levothyroxine supplementation will have a significant influence on the behavior and neurohormonal status of dogs with spontaneous hypothyroidism.ANIMALS: Twenty client-owned dogs diagnosed with spontaneous hypothyroidism.METHODS: This prospective study was to evaluate the behavior of dogs, which was screened at initial presentation, and after 6 weeks, and 6 months of treatment with levothyroxine (starting dosage 10 μg/kg PO q12h) using the standardized Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ). At each time period, circulating serotonin and prolactin (PRL) concentrations were evaluated using a commercially validated ELISA kit and heterologous radioimmunoassay, respectively.RESULTS: After 6 weeks of thyroid hormone supplementation, C-BARQ scores demonstrated a significant increase in activity of hypothyroid dogs (P < .01). No significant change in any of the behavioral signs was observed after 6 months of treatment. No significant difference in circulating concentrations of serotonin (P > .99 and P = .46) and PRL (P = .99 and P = .37) were noted between the 6-week and 6-month periods compared with baseline.CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The results of this study indicate increased activity of hypothyroid dogs after 6 weeks of thyroid hormone supplementation. None of the hypothyroid dogs in this cohort showed a significant change in any of the evaluated behavioral signs and neurohormonal status after 6 months of thyroid hormone supplementation.

KW - canine

KW - prolactin

KW - serotonin

KW - thyroid supplementation

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DO - 10.1111/jvim.15342

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EP - 71

JO - Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine

JF - Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine

IS - 1

ER -

Behavior in dogs with spontaneous hypothyroidism during treatment with levothyroxine

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Keywords

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