Update on Thyroid Disease, Vaccine Issues, and Nutrition

 

W. Jean Dodds, DVM

938 Stanford Street

Santa Monica, CA 90403

310-828-4804; Fax 310-453-5240

 www.hemopet.org; hemopet@hotmail.com

 

 

Thyroid Disease

 

Hypothyroidism is the most common endocrine disorder of dogs, and up to 90% of cases result from an autoimmune disease that progressively destroys the thyroid gland (autoimmune thyroiditis). Once more than 70% of the gland is destroyed by this process, classical clinical signs of hypothyroidism appear. Because the condition is heritable, it has significant genetic implications for breeding stock.  Accurate diagnosis of the early stages of autoimmune thyroiditis offers important genetic and clinical options for prompt intervention and case management. However, it is often difficult to make a definitive diagnosis.

 

 

Vaccine Issues

 

Modern vaccine technology has permitted us to protect companion animals effectively against serious infectious diseases. However, the challenge to produce effective and safe vaccines for the prevalent infectious diseases of animals has become increasingly difficult. In veterinary medicine, evidence implicating vaccines in triggering immune-mediated and other chronic disorders (vaccinosis) is compelling.  While some of these problems have been traced to contaminated or poorly attenuated batches of vaccine that revert to virulence, others apparently reflect the host's genetic predisposition to react adversely upon receiving the single (monovalent) or multiple antigen “combo” (polyvalent) products given routinely to animals. Animals of certain susceptible breeds or families appear to be at increased risk for severe and lingering adverse reactions to vaccines. 

 

 

Nutrition

 

Wholesome nutrition is key to maintaining healthy immune function and resistance to disease. Discussion will focus on the basic ingredients and trace vitamins, minerals, and immune-balancing nutrients that promote healthy endocrine and immune function as they apply to health and disease.

The exciting new field of nutrigenomics is an emerging science that studies the molecular relationships between nutrition and the response of genes in promoting health.  Different diets elicit different patterns of gene and protein expression as well as metabolite production; these are termed molecular dietary signatures.

 

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