THYROID-STIMULATING HORMONE STIMULATION TESTS IN CARDIOMYOPATHIC DOBERMAN-PINSCHERS - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) response tests were performed in 152 Doberman Pinschers. Seventy-nine dogs had cardiomyopathy (46 were in congestive heart failure [CHF] and 33 were not in CHF). Seventy-three dogs were presented for noncardiac problems (15 with skin disease, 21 with neurologic disease, 20 with internal medicine disorders, and 17 w ith other problems), although some may have had cardiomyopathy. The TS H response test results in the cardiomyopathic group were interpreted as normal or euthyroid-sick in 45 (57%) dogs, abnormal in 23 (29%) dog s, and equivocal in 11 (14%) dogs. The prevalence of hypothyroidism in the CHF and non-CHF cardiomyopathy groups was nor different. Among th e dogs presented for noncardiac problems, 27 (37%) were assessed as no rmal or euthyroid-sick 29 (40%) as hypothyroid, and 17 (23%) as equivo cal. No significant differences were found in the prevalence of hypoth yroid test results among the subgroups of these dogs. The prevalence o f hypothyroidism was not higher in the cardiomyopathic group compared to the other group, and 63 and 49% of cardiomyopathic dogs with or wit hout CHE respectively, tested as either euthyroid or euthyroid-sick.