Endocrinology
Endocrinology consultations at AgoraVet veterinary clinic
Endocrinology is the branch of medicine concerned with hormonal dysfunctions. Hormones are small molecules that act as messengers in the body and play an essential role in balancing many vital functions: regulation of blood sugar, ions, calcium and phosphorus, etc. Any hormonal imbalance seriously disrupts the body's metabolism, and must be assessed with a view to treatment. To do this, the veterinarian will use a variety of complementary tests.
Blood and urine biology: the backbone of endocrinology. Any suspicion of a hormonal disorder leads to blood and urine tests. Stimulation tests are often necessary: hormones are produced by internal glands, which are stimulated with a drug and then measured to see whether the gland in question has responded normally, too little or disproportionately.
Biology is also used to monitor treatment efficacy and detect any side effects.
Ultrasound: this enables us to visualize certain hormone-producing organs (thyroid and parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, pancreas, kidneys, etc.), but also to observe lesions that are the consequences of certain hormonal disorders (liver abnormalities, urinary calculi, prostatic hyperplasia, etc.).
CT scan or MRI: like ultrasound, this examination can be used to visualize most hormone-producing organs, either when ultrasound has not been able to image them with certainty, or because they are inaccessible to ultrasound, such as the pituitary gland. In the case of hormone-secreting tumors, a CT scan can be used not only to clarify the diagnosis, but also to carry out an extension assessment (to look for metastases).
What are the main endocrine disorders encountered in veterinary medicine?
The most common endocrine diseases are :
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is found in dogs, cats and octodon, among our most common pets.
It results in a constant increase in the amount of sugar in the blood, or hyperglycemia. This condition leads to symptoms such as increased water consumption, cataracts, neuropathy leading to gait disorders, wound-healing disorders, etc.
Diagnosis is based on blood tests.
Medical treatments for diabetes are available.
Hypercorticism or Cushing's disease
Cushing's syndrome occurs mainly in dogs. The disease is characterized by excessive secretion of the body's natural cortisone, produced by the adrenal glands. Two potential causes are known: stimulation of the adrenal glands by a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, which is affected by adenomas that are often benign, or tumor involvement of one or both adrenal glands.
The most frequent signs are :
- increased water consumption
- More hunger
- a little thin and not very elastic / progressive alopecia, especially of the head and limbs
- A pendulous abdomen due to loosening of the abdominal muscles
- reduced muscle tone, tendon or ligament disorders
Surgical and/or medical treatments for Cushing's disease
Hypocorticism
Hypocorticism is also known as Addison's disease. It occurs mainly in dogs and results in insufficient secretion of adrenocortical hormones. The depletion of natural corticoids leads to a variety of symptoms, which can appear suddenly, cyclically or chronically.
The most common symptoms are fatigue and depression, vomiting, loss of appetite and even anorexia, diarrhea (sometimes with melena), tremors and even convulsions due to hypoglycemia.
Poodles and Rottweilers seem to be more frequently affected by this disease.
Diagnosis is based on blood tests, and treatment is medical.
Hypothyroidism
It's a common disease in dogs, and results from insufficient production of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland. This hormone is essential to the body, and its depletion affects all bodily functions. There are several types of hypothyroidism (primary, secondary or tertiary), which must be identified in order to tailor treatment.
The average age of onset of this disease is between 3 and 8 years, and it affects all breeds of dog, although some, such as the Airedale terrier, Beagle, Poodle and English Bulldog, appear to be more common.