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Endocrine diseases in small mammals
Author(s) -
Keeble Emma
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
in practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.211
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 2042-7689
pISSN - 0263-841X
DOI - 10.1136/inpract.23.10.570
Subject(s) - endocrine system , diagnostic test , medicine , intensive care medicine , clinical practice , companion animal , pediatrics , veterinary medicine , family medicine , hormone
ALTHOUGH endocrine diseases of small pet mammals are frequently encountered in veterinary practice, they are only rarely reported in the literature and may, therefore, go undiagnosed by the general practitioner. Diagnosis is not easy because of the small sample size, the variability in response to established diagnostic tests for endocrine diseases in dogs and cats, and the lack of normal reference range values in these species. Treatment is often complicated by the need for high dosage frequencies due to short drug half‐lives, which makes stabilisation difficult. In addition, owners find it hard to administer medication and may also be reluctant to finance further diagnostic tests. This article discusses the clinical signs associated with common endocrine diseases in small mammals and, wherever possible, describes diagnostic tests and treatment regimens.