Dog with rare dwarfism condition responds well to hormone injections. A young dog with pituitary dwarfism has responded well to progesterone treatment from Veterinary Specialists in the Internal Medicine Service. Undersized dogPixie the Chihuahua was referred by her vet to the Hospital for Small Animals owing to her failure to grow, mental dullness and lethargy. She had experienced multiple hypoglycaemic episodes and was being fed every three hours in an attempt to maintain her glucose levels. At six months old, she weighed less than half a kilogramme, had delayed closing of growth plates and dental eruption, a dull coat and was very thin, with a body condition score of two out of five.Blood tests, including routine serum biochemistry, haematology, fructosamine, bile acid stimulation test and total and free T4, as well as imaging excluded many potential causes for the presenting problems, including a portosystemic stunt and congenital hypothyroidism. Further testing revealed that the young dog had a severe deficit in insulin-like growth factor (IGF) 1, explaining the dog's stunted growth and development as well as hypoglycaemic collapse episodes. Pixie, shown on the left, weighed less than 500g at six months old, but following treatment she, shown on the right with her litter mate, has a normal body condition and weight. Unusual diagnosis Hyposomatotropism is an extremely rare condition characterised by the underdevelopment of the pituitary gland, resulting in a deficiency of growth hormone and, in some cases, other key hormones.The Dick Vet team prescribed regular progesterone injections to stimulate the production of growth hormone from the dog’s mammary glands, which is important for glucose homeostasis and also signals the production of IGF-1 in the liver. Positive outcomeWithin nine months, Pixie had nearly tripled in weight, was no longer hypoglycaemic and had normal energy levels for a dog her age. Her adult teeth had erupted, her coat was much improved and her body condition score was normal. Pixie will require progesterone injections for the rest of her life and will be small for her breed, however vets are confident that she will continue to have a great quality of life.Pixie is a wonderful patient; watching her grow and thrive has been a real pleasure. It is so rewarding to see the positive difference we can make for our patients and their owners. Dr Alisdair Boag, RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Medicine About the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies is a one-of-a-kind centre of excellence in clinical activity, teaching and research. Our purpose-built campus, set against the backdrop of the beautiful Pentland Hills Regional Park, is home to more than 800 staff and almost 1400 students, all of whom contribute to our exceptional community ethos. The School comprises: The Roslin Institute The Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems The Roslin Innovation Centre The Hospital for Small Animals Equine Veterinary Services Farm Animal Services Easter Bush Pathology The Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education We represent the largest concentration of animal science-related expertise in Europe, impacting local, regional, national and international communities in terms of economic growth, the provision of clinical services and the advancement of scientific knowledge. Tags HfSA Vet Publication date 25 Nov, 2024
