title: Exogenous thyrotoxicosis in dogs attributable to consumption of all-meat commercial dog food or treats containing excessive thyroid hormone: 14 cases (2008-2013).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe findings in dogs with exogenous thyrotoxicosis attributable to consumption of commercially available dog foods or treats containing high concentrations of thyroid hormone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective and prospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  14 dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records were retrospectively searched to identify dogs with exogenous thyrotoxicosis attributable to dietary intake. One case was found, and subsequent cases were identified prospectively. Serum thyroid hormone concentrations were evaluated before and after feeding meat-based products suspected to contain excessive thyroid hormone was discontinued. Scintigraphy was performed to evaluate thyroid tissue in 13 of 14 dogs before and 1 of 13 dogs after discontinuation of suspect foods or treats. Seven samples of 5 commercially available products fed to 6 affected dogs were analyzed for thyroxine concentration; results were subjectively compared with findings for 10 other commercial foods and 6 beef muscle or liver samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total serum thyroxine concentrations were high (median, 8.8 μg/dL; range, 4.65 to 17.4 μg/dL) in all dogs at initial evaluation; scintigraphy revealed subjectively decreased thyroid gland radionuclide in 13 of 13 dogs examined. At ≥ 4 weeks after feeding of suspect food or treats was discontinued, total thyroxine concentrations were within the reference range for all dogs and signs associated with thyrotoxicosis, if present, had resolved. Analysis of tested food or treat samples revealed a median thyroxine concentration for suspect products of 1.52 μg of thyroxine/g, whereas that of unrelated commercial foods was 0.38 μg of thyroxine/g.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicated that thyrotoxicosis can occur secondary to consumption of meat-based products presumably contaminated by thyroid tissue, and can be reversed by identification and elimination of suspect products from the diet.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Veterinary Medical Imaging, 3047 Edinger Ave, Tustin, CA 92780.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Broome
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kemppainen
authors.forename: Valerie J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Keith P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Richter
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005506:Food Contamination; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013971:Thyrotoxicosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D013974:Thyroxine