Understanding Endocrinology In Dogs and Cats

Our pets count on many different body systems to keep them feeling their best, and one of the most important is the endocrine system. This system is responsible for making and managing your pet’s hormones, which control all kinds of things in their body, like metabolism, growth, and how they react to stress.

When something’s off with a pet’s endocrine system, it can cause a range of health problems. At Tenth Street Animal Hospital, we're here to help diagnose and treat endocrine issues in dogs and cats.

What is the Endocrine System?

The endocrine system is made up of glands like the thyroid, pancreas, and adrenal glands. These glands release hormones into your pet’s bloodstream, helping control everything from their energy levels to their responses to stress.

If something goes wrong with these glands or the hormones they produce, pets can show all sorts of symptoms, like changes in weight, thirst, or even behavior. That's why diagnosing and treating endocrinology disorders is important for your pet’s overall health.

Common Endocrine Issues in Dogs and Cats

Here are a few of the most common endocrin problems that pets can face:

Diabetes

Diabetes in dogs and cats happens when your pet’s pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin (or when their body can’t use insulin properly. Insulin controls blood sugar levels, and without normal levels pets can get sick. You might notice your pet drinking more water, peeing more often, losing weight, or acting more tired than usual. With early diagnosis, appropriate treatment and monitoring, diabetic pets can enjoy a long, healthy life.

Thyroid Problems in Pets

Hypothyroidism in Dogs: Hypothyroidism is when your dog’s thyroid doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone. Dogs with this condition might gain weight, act sluggish, lose hair, or develop skin problems due to a slow metabolism. The good news is that hypothyroidism is usually easy to manage with daily medication.

Hyperthyroidism in Cats: On the flip side, cats tend to get hyperthyroidism, where their thyroid produces too much hormone. This speeds up their metabolism, leading to weight loss, a bigger appetite, restlessness, and even heart issues. Treatment options include specialized diets, medication, surgery, or radioactive iodine therapy (I-131 therapy).

Cushing’s Disease

Cushing’s disease happens when your pet's adrenal glands produce too much cortisol, the body’s “stress” hormone. Too much cortisol can cause symptoms like excessive drinking, frequent panting, a pot-bellied appearance, and skin changes. Dogs are more prone to this condition than cats. Blood testing and occasionally imaging of the belly are needed for diagnosis. Cushing’s is most often treated with medications to help control cortisol levels, with required long-term monitoring.

When Does Your Pet Need an Specialist in Endocrinology?

Our vets can usually diagnose and treat most endocrine disorders. But in more complicated cases—like when your pet isn’t responding to treatment as expected, our vets may recommend consulting with an internal medicine specialist.  At Tenth Street Animal Hospital, we have the ability to consult directly with internal medicine specialists to keep your pet’s care in house. This collaborative approach helps keep care more convenient, cost-effective, and seamless for you and your pet.

These specialists have extra training in hormone-related (endocrine) issues and access to advanced tools that help with complicated cases. So, if your pet’s condition is tricky or needs more specialized care, an internal medicine specialist can offer the expertise needed to get things back on track. When even more advanced testing is required, our vets may recommend referral to a hospital to see an internal medicine specialist directly.

Internal Medicine Referral Process

If our veterinarians think your pet needs to see an internal medicine specialist directly, they’ll explain why and help set up the referral. The specialist will perform any extra tests and create a detailed treatment plan, working alongside our vets to make sure your pet gets the best care possible.

Sometimes, you might only need to see the specialist once or twice for a diagnosis and treatment plan, and our veterinarians will handle follow-up care. In other cases, your pet might need to see the specialist more regularly for monitoring and adjustments to their treatment.

Veterinary Internal Medicine Care in Greenville

Pet endocrine health is important. Endocrine disorders in pets like diabetes, thyroid problems, and Cushing’s disease can be tricky, but the sooner they’re diagnosed and treated, the better your dog or cat's quality of life will be. If you notice any signs that your pet might have an endocrine problem, call us at (252) 830-0881 or book an appointment online below!