Prognostic value of serum total thyroxine concentration at admission to an intensive care unit for critically ill dogs

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether serum total thyroxine (TT4) concentration at admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) was associated with mortality rate and duration of hospitalization for critically ill dogs.

Animals: 166 client-owned dogs that were hospitalized in the ICU of a private veterinary practice from January 2013 through December 2016 and for which serum TT4 concentration had been measured at admission.

Procedures: Medical records were reviewed to collect data regarding patient signalment, concurrent illnesses, medications, reason for hospitalization, outcome (death, euthanasia, or survival to hospital discharge), duration of hospitalization, and initial serum TT4 concentration.

Results: Mean age of the 166 dogs was 8.6 years (range, 1 to 16 years). Overall mortality rate was 15.7%, with 26 dogs failing to survive to hospital discharge. Of these 26 dogs, 7 died and 19 were euthanized. No significant association was identified between serum TT4 concentration at admission and survival to discharge (yes or no) or duration of hospitalization. Age was significantly associated with survival to discharge, with older dogs less likely to survive than younger dogs. Duration of hospitalization was also associated with survival to discharge, with longer hospital stays associated with a lower likelihood of survival to discharge.

Conclusions and clinical relevance: Findings suggested that serum TT4 concentration at admission to an ICU had no prognostic value in this population of critically ill dogs.