Thyroid

Note. Please do not send thyroid blood samples to the OFA. Submission instructions are included on the back page of the thyroid application.

General Information
What is hypothyroidism?

OFA thyroid procedures
Examination and classification of the dog who may have hypothyroidism, lab procedures, and approved labs.

Veterinarian Instructions for OFA Thyroid Testing
Instructions on how to submit samples to OFA approved labs.

What do the thyroid classifications mean?
The differences between the types of hypothyroidism

Michigan State University Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory Breed Prevalence Data

Thyroid statistics
By breed, ranking, trends, etc.

Thyroid Number Key
Interpret the meaning of the OFA thyroid certification number assigned to your dog.

Thyroid application
Online Acrobat pdf form. Fill the top part of this form out online, print, and take to your vet to use when he takes a sample for evaluation for hypothyroidism. Fees are listed on the form or may be found in the OFA fees section.

Thyroid Report Sample
In order to assist buyers and breeders in researching and verifying health history, the OFA is providing sample report forms. Any form presented as an "OFA Report" which is not on an official OFA form should be held as suspect.

Dogs should not receive any type of thyroid supplementation for 3 months prior to thyroid testing.

The Thyroid Database is for dogs 12 months and over. Assays performed on dogs less than 12 months will be treated as Consultations and no OFA breed numbers will be assigned.