Why should I worry about autoimmune thyroiditis?

Hypothyroidism is the most common endocrine disease in dogs
Dogs with untreated thyroid disease can have many clinical signs (sluggishness obesity, skin disease, cold intolerance, hair loss, weakness, poor coat, and infertility).
Both owners and breeders can have a dog tested and know if the dog will develop the disease long before detrimental clinical signs of the disease become apparent
Treatment involves administering L-thyroxine (T4) tablets once or twice daily. This is a very effective treatment if the disease is successfully diagnosed.
Although thyroid disease responds well to medication, it is not inexpensive. Veterinary care and medication costs can reach upwards of $1,500 dollars over the dog's lifetime.
All dogs should be screened prior to breeding to reduce the likelihood of pups having the disease. Through screening and responsible breeding, combined with spreading awareness of disease prevalent breeds (e.g. beagle); the likelihood for having a dog with thyroid disease can be drastically reduced or even eliminated.