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Tag: Labrador

  • It’s worth ruling out hypothyroidism if blood cholesterol is elevated

    Characteristic changes in the facial skin of a Labrador retriever with hypothyroidism.
    Characteristic changes in the facial skin of a Labrador retriever with hypothyroidism. Image by Caroldermoid (own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons.
    To be truthful, I have a bit of a blind spot when it comes to hypothyroidism. I often find few dogs follow the traditional textbook description of the clinical signs.

    I have seen two cases of late with elevated cholesterol, but no hair loss, unexplained weight gain, heat seeking and mucinous skin thickness.

    Both cases had blood submitted for total thyroxine (TT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and both had very low TT4 levels and markedly increased TSH.

    Both cases are also improving nicely on thyroxine supplementation.

  • Neuro-exams can be very helpful

    Prolapsed gland of the third eyelid, or Cherry eye as it is sometimes known. Image by Joel Mills (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikipedia.
    Prolapsed gland of the third eyelid, or cherry eye as it is sometimes known. Image by Joel Mills (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikipedia.

    A nice six-year-old Labrador with a history of possible trauma, complete forelimb muscle atrophy and proprioceptive deficits was brought to see me.

    Radial paralysis was high up on the list of differentials, but the poor chap had not shown any response to conservative management.

    I noticed it had mild anisocoria, slight ptosis and third eyelid prolapse, indicating the less obvious Horner’s syndrome. A bell rang in my mind of a case I recalled seeing as a student – it revealed itself to be indicative of a brachial plexus injury/tumour.

    Sadly, an MRI scan at Davies Veterinary Specialists confirmed the presence of a tumour.

    Very sad.