Dogs can be tested at any age, however testing before one year of age is not recomended because the disease is seldom detectable prior to that time. Since hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease, dogs can test negative at one age and develop the disease at a later time. Therefore, checking breeding dogs at the ages of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 years is advised. If the dog does not acquire thyroid disease by 6 years of age, odds are very good that it will remain negative.

How does the VT 20 kit work?

This kit provides a quick and economical way to screen for autoimmune thyroid disease in dogs. Thyroiditis is an inherited autoimmune disease which is the major cause of hypothyroidism in dogs. Signs of hypothyroidism include sluggishness, obesity, skin disease, hair loss, weakness, a poor coat and infertility. By testing your dog before breeding and breeding appropriately, you can help reduce the incidence of this disease

To reduce the incidence of autoimmune thyroiditis, we recommend that all dogs used for breeding be tested for this disease. Consult your veterinarian for assistance with the management of this disease and your dog's health.

A few drops of the dog's blood is all that is required to test for autoimmune hypothyroidism. An easy way to do this is to nick the quick while trimming the dog's nails. We perform the analyses in our laboratories using a state-of-the-art enzyme immunoassay to detect antibodies to canine thyroglobulin. Samples are analyzed and the results are reported directly to you. The price of the VT 20 kit includes all testing and reporting services. For more information, feel free to email.