REFLECTIONS ON THE JUDGMENT OF SYMMETRICA L ALOPECIA OF ENDOCRINE ORIGIN IN DOGS - CASE-REPORT AND COMPILATORY ACCOUNT

In the first part of the paper, a literature review, illustrated with own cases, has been given on the endocrine diseases of dogs accompanie d with skin alterations and alopecia. Referring to statistical data, i t has been point-ed out that of the skin alteration with an endocrine background the cases being correlated with hypothyroidism are the most frequently observed. Alopecia due to pathological adrenal function (G ushing syndrome), pathological testicular function (feminisation) are also treated together with the less frequently observed endocrine caus es, e. g. the alopecia caused by the lack of somatotrophic hormone. Ow ing to the better illustration of the background of hypothyreosis, det ailed summary has been given on the cause of diminished function of th yroid gland and on the recent results in the thyroid physiology. Thus, the role of hypothalamo-hypophyseal system, the thyroid gland and per ipheral hormone metabolism has been analyzed in the development of the disease. It has been found that the accurate diagnosis requires the e xact measurement of the concentration triiodo-thyronine (T3) and thyro xin (T4) in the serum and - of the stimulation tests - the performance of the thyrotrop releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test. Demonstrat ing the;own results, it has been pointed out that the ''low T3 syndrom e'' diagnosed up to now only in human patients, can also be observed i n the dog species which is important from the point of view of differe ntial diagnosis and treatment.