What does the thyroid gland look like in a dog? - briefly
The thyroid gland in dogs appears as two lobes positioned on either side of the trachea, near the base of the neck. These lobes are typically reddish-brown and can be easily palpated due to their proximity to the skin surface.
What does the thyroid gland look like in a dog? - in detail
The thyroid gland in dogs is a small, highly vascularized organ located at the base of the neck. It typically consists of two lobes, one on each side of the trachea, connected by a narrow bridge of tissue called the isthmus. The size and shape of the thyroid gland can vary depending on several factors, including breed, age, and overall health.
Each lobe of the thyroid gland is made up of numerous small follicles, which are spherical structures filled with colloid, a substance that contains thyroglobulin, the precursor to thyroid hormones. The follicular cells surrounding these follicles produce and secrete the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), which are essential for regulating metabolism, growth, and development in dogs.
The thyroid gland is also surrounded by a connective tissue capsule, which provides structural support and helps to maintain the position of the gland within the neck region. Additionally, there are small groups of parafollicular cells, or C cells, scattered throughout the thyroid tissue. These cells produce calcitonin, a hormone involved in calcium regulation.
In healthy dogs, the thyroid gland is usually not palpable through the skin, and its size can be difficult to assess without specialized imaging techniques such as ultrasound or radiography. However, in cases of hyperthyroidism or other thyroid disorders, the gland may become enlarged and more readily detectable by physical examination or diagnostic imaging.