Vet Times

Tag: hypothyroidism

  • Ionised hypocalcaemia, pt 2: eclampsia

    Ionised hypocalcaemia, pt 2: eclampsia

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    As discussed in part one of this blog series, a myriad of disease processes can lead to ionised hypocalcaemia (iHCa). Despite this, only hypocalcaemia caused by eclampsia and hypoparathyroidism (primary or iatrogenic – post-surgical parathyroidectomy) are severe enough to demand immediate parenteral calcium administration. Hypoparathyroidism is quite rare, so this blog will not explore the…

  • Hyponatraemia, pt 2: causes

    Hyponatraemia, pt 2: causes

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    The causes of hyponatraemia can be divided into three major categories, based on serum osmolality. This is further divided based on the patient’s volume status (Table 1). Most patients we see in clinic fall into the hypovolaemic category, except patients with diabetes mellitus. Table 1. Causes of hyponatraemia based on osmolality and volume status (from…

  • Lipaemia – the bane of biochemistry

    Lipaemia – the bane of biochemistry

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    Last week we covered haemolysed samples – this week we’re looking at lipaemic samples. Lipaemic samples are caused by an excess of lipoproteins in the blood, creating a milky/turbid appearance that interferes with multiple biochemical tests and can even cause haemolysis of red blood cells. Lipaemia can follow recent ingestion of a meal – especially…

  • Spoonies: welcome to Janesville

    Spoonies: welcome to Janesville

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    I’ve said before about my lack of love for Facebook, but my social media heart has warmed up a little towards it – not because I think their exposure will create a better platform or that people will ever stop posting the same meme 50 times a day. No, it’s much simpler and closer to…

  • The messiness of medicine

    The messiness of medicine

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    My career has taken a very academic turn recently; I’m now a resident in clinical pathology, after (mutter mutter) years in general practice. It’s been a huge change and enormously interesting, and one of the things that has surprised me greatly (and said with caution, given I have general pathology exams looming) is how much…

  • Aggression as an unusual presenting sign of hypothyroidism

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    I’ve not long come across a case of a middle-aged dog that had suddenly become unaccustomedly grumpy and started snapping at its poor owners. This was uncharacteristic, as it had no previous history of behavioural problems. There were no other obvious clinical signs – perhaps it had become lazy of late, but there was nothing to put your…

  • Check tear production in cases of facial paralysis

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    We recently saw a 10-year-old, West Highland white that had developed a middle ear infection and facial paralysis. Following treatment and further investigation, it turned out the poor little chap had concurrent hypothyroidism. Several weeks later, I noticed the eye the same side as the ear infection had developed a mucopurulent discharge and mild keratitis. On checking its Schirmer…