Table: Common Endocrine Diseases in Small Animals - Merck Veterinary Manual

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Common Endocrine Diseases in Small Animals

Common Endocrine Diseases in Small Animals

Endocrine System Involved	Site of Disease Origin	Hypofunction	Hyperfunction
Adrenal	Adrenal (primary)	Primary hypoadrenocorticism Addison Disease Addison disease (hypoadrenocorticism) results from the lack of glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, or both. Isolated aldosterone insufficiency appears to be very rare, whereas isolated glucocorticoid... read more Addison disease, loss of cortisol and aldosterone Occasional in dogs or cats	Functional adrenal tumor Occasional in dogs, common in ferrets but involves secretion of excessive sex steroids
Adrenal	Pituitary (secondary)	Secondary hypoadrenocorticism low cortisol only Very occasional in dogs or cats	Pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism Cushing Disease (Pituitary-dependent Hyperadrenocorticism) in Animals Cushing disease is hyperadrenocorticism caused by an ACTH-secreting tumor of the pituitary gland. Clinical signs include polyuria, polydipsia, alopecia, and muscle weakness. A low-dose dexamethasone... read more Cushing disease Common in dogs
Thyroid	Thyroid (primary)	Primary hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism in Animals Hypothyroidism is thyroid hormone deficiency. It is diagnosed by clinical features such as lethargy, weight gain, obesity, haircoat changes, and low serum thyroid hormone concentrations. Management... read more Common in dogs	Hyperthyroidism Very common in cats
Thyroid	Pituitary (secondary)	Secondary hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism in Animals Hypothyroidism is thyroid hormone deficiency. It is diagnosed by clinical features such as lethargy, weight gain, obesity, haircoat changes, and low serum thyroid hormone concentrations. Management... read more Low TSH Rare in dogs or cats	Secondary hyperthyroidism High TSH Very rare in dogs or cats
Parathyroid	Parathyroid (primary)	Primary hypoparathyroidism Hypoparathyroidism Hypocalcemia causes the major clinical manifestations of hypoparathyroidism by increasing the excitability of both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Peripheral neuromuscular signs... read more Low PTH Rare in dogs or cats	Primary hyperparathyroidism Primary Hyperparathyroidism Hypercalcemia can be toxic to all body tissues, but major deleterious effects occur in the kidneys, nervous system, and cardiovascular system. The development of clinical signs from hypercalcemia... read more High PTH Occasional in dogs or cats
Parathyroid	Kidney or diet (secondary)	Not seen	Secondary hyperparathyroidism Renal Secondary Hyperparathyroidism In primary hyperparathyroidism, there is excess production of parathyroid hormone (PTH) by an autonomous functional lesion in one or several of the parathyroid glands. The normal regulatory... read more Sometimes associated with kidney disease in dogs or cats
Pancreas	Pancreas (primary)	Diabetes mellitus type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Dogs and Cats Diabetes mellitus is a common endocrine disease in dogs and cats, occurring in about 1 of every 300 patients. Clinical signs reflect hyperglycemia with resultant glycosuria. Diagnosis is made... read more Low insulin Common in dogs	Insulinoma High insulin Occasional in dogs, common in ferrets
Pancreas	Multiple sites, including pancreas	Diabetes mellitus type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Dogs and Cats Diabetes mellitus is a common endocrine disease in dogs and cats, occurring in about 1 of every 300 patients. Clinical signs reflect hyperglycemia with resultant glycosuria. Diagnosis is made... read more Normal or high insulin Common in cats	Not seen
TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone. PTH, parathyroid hormone.

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