Horse Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid hormone levels or release of them are insufficient in your horse. For a horse to have a healthy metabolism and maintain their level of energy their thyroid has to function properly.

Some of the signs of hypothyroidism include low energy, overall weakness or goitre. Other signs to be aware of include their coat losing its lustre, and laminitis. Other things that have been linked to hypothyroidism include infertility and sudden spikes in weight.

To diagnose this problem blood tests have to be taken and the vet will check the T3 or T4 levels on the horse's blood. Thyroid levels fluctuate all the time and regular periodic sampling of the blood is sometimes necessary. This is done so adequate treatment can be given and the proper amount of thyroid hormones can be given.

A horse has a complex system of hormonal regulation which affects the thyroid gland. This means that a horse hormone levels can fluctuate at any time. This is why it is important to take periodic samples of the blood. It also helps to avoid false positive results that could lead to unnecessary treatment of the thyroid.

There is another test that has shown favorable results. It involves the administration of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH occurs naturally in a horse's pituitary gland. This test will help to give the vet an accurate measurement of the gland's level of functioning. Due to the adverse effects that a misdiagnosis could have it is imperative that you don't give your horse thyroid supplements until adequate tests have been preformed.