[Polyendocrine syndromes in dogs]

The autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome (APS) refers to a combination of autoimmune endocrine disorders. It is rarely described in dogs. The most common combinations are hypoadrenocorticism and hypothyroidism, followed by diabetes mellitus, and less often hypoparathyroidism and orchitis. The diagnosis of the APS is based on the diagnosis of each endocrinopathy, as is the therapy, which involves the substitution of deficient hormones. If a patient was previously stable under treatment and is showing further signs (e.g. polyuria, polydipsia, or weight loss), the development of additional endocrinopathies like hypoadrenocorticism or diabetes mellitus should be considered. The diagnosis of the initially diagnosed endocrinopathy should also be critically questioned. This article summarizes some cases of our own animal hospital and selected cases published in the available literature.