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Hormonal disturbances associated with obesity in dogs
Author(s) -
Martin L. J. M.,
Siliart B.,
Dumon H. J. W.,
Nguyen P. G.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.651
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1439-0396
pISSN - 0931-2439
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2005.00589.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , hormone , fructosamine , prolactin , endocrine system , cortisone , thyroid function , thyroid , overweight , obesity , leptin , triiodothyronine , insulin
Summary Obesity is associated with multiple endocrine alterations and changes in the concentration of circulating hormones. However, few studies have explored such alterations in dogs with naturally acquired excess weight. In the present study, we investigated the effect of naturally acquired obesity on cortisol, insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐1 and prolactin secretion in dogs. Thirty‐one overweight dogs were enrolled in the trial. Blood samples were collected before and after adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) injection. Free thyroxine (fT4), cortisol, thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH), IGF‐1, prolactin and fructosamine were assayed. Body weight excess increased significantly with age and neutered dogs were more obese than entire ones. The ACTH stimulation test was within the normal range for 26 of 31 dogs. Prolactinaemia was increased in seven dogs and IGF‐1 in six dogs. Twenty dogs had a fructosamine concentration >340 μ m . Interestingly, 18 of 31 dogs showed disturbances of thyroid function based on high TSH and/or low fT4 baseline concentration, with 11 dogs showing both. According to these parameters only six of 31 dogs were free of hormonal disturbances. These results revealed the high incidence of such disturbances, especially thyroid dysfunction, in obese, but otherwise apparently healthy dogs. They demonstrate the importance of examining endocrine function during the initial evaluation of obese dogs to avoid failure of any nutritional treatment.