Use of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in cats

Wakeling J.

Can Vet J 2010;51:33-34.

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) measurement is routinely used for the diagnosis of thyroid disease in humans and dogs, but measurement of feline TSH is not routinely performed because a commercial feline TSH assay is not available. Research has been somewhat frustrated by the poor sensitivity of the canine TSH assay which is a long way from achieving the sensitivity seen in the newer generations of human TSH assays. However there are certain situations for which I believe the canine TSH assay has a useful role in the diagnosis of thyroid disease in cats, as long as the limitations of the assay are fully understood. Recent studies have used the DPC canine TSH assay for the measurement of feline TSH (1–4) in cats with occult hyperthyroidism.