| There are various clinical signs associated with excessive iodine intake including changes to the skin and hair, and bone abnormalities. Goitre – normally a feature of chronic iodine deficiency – may also occur because the prolonged intake of excessive iodine levels increases plasma iodine, which in turn has a negative effect on iodine uptake by the thyroid gland. In general, observations in dogs and cats are restricted to more subtle effects. | | There are various clinical signs associated with excessive iodine intake including changes to the skin and hair, and bone abnormalities. Goitre – normally a feature of chronic iodine deficiency – may also occur because the prolonged intake of excessive iodine levels increases plasma iodine, which in turn has a negative effect on iodine uptake by the thyroid gland. In general, observations in dogs and cats are restricted to more subtle effects. |
− | When dogs were given a single dose of potassium iodate delivering 100 mg iodine/kg bodyweight (BW) it caused anorexia and occasional vomiting. Higher doses of 200 and 250 mg iodine/kg BW caused anorexia, coma and death<ref>Webster, SH, Stohlman, EF, Highman, B (1966). “The toxicology of potassium and sodium iodates. III. Acute and subacute oral toxicology of potassium iodate in dogs”. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 8:185-192.</ref>. A lower (but still high) intake of iodine of 775 µg/kg BW/day in puppies was associated with bone abnormalities. This intake is equivalent to a dietary iodine content of about 17-18 mg/kg DM<ref>Castillo, V, Pisarev, M, Lalia, J, Junco, M, Rodriguez, M, Cabrin, R, Marquez, A (2001). “Commercial diet induced hypothyroidism due to high iodine. A histological and radiological analysis”. Vet. Quart. 23:218-223.</ref>. | + | When dogs were given a single dose of potassium iodate delivering 100 mg iodine/kg bodyweight (BW) it caused anorexia and occasional vomiting. Higher doses of 200 and 250 mg iodine/kg BW caused '''anorexia, coma and death'''<ref>Webster, SH, Stohlman, EF, Highman, B (1966). “The toxicology of potassium and sodium iodates. III. Acute and subacute oral toxicology of potassium iodate in dogs”. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 8:185-192.</ref>. A lower (but still high) intake of iodine of 775 µg/kg BW/day in puppies was associated with bone abnormalities. This intake is equivalent to a dietary iodine content of about 17-18 mg/kg DM<ref>Castillo, V, Pisarev, M, Lalia, J, Junco, M, Rodriguez, M, Cabrin, R, Marquez, A (2001). “Commercial diet induced hypothyroidism due to high iodine. A histological and radiological analysis”. Vet. Quart. 23:218-223.</ref>. |
| There are conflicting reports of the effects of excessive iodine in cats. For example, Kyle et al. fed a diet containing an iodine content of 21 mg/kg DM to cats for 5 months and observed no clinical abnormalities or changes in serum free thyroxine levels<ref>Kyle, A, Tartellin, MF, Cooke, R, Ford, HC (1994). “Serum free thyroxine levels in cats maintained on diets relatively high or low in iodine”. New Zealand Vet. J. 42:101-103.</ref>. In contrast, another study reported a significant depression in serum free thyroxine when cats were fed a dietary iodine level of 13.8 mg/kg DM for only two weeks<ref>Tartellin, MF, Ford, HC (1994). “Dietary iodine level and thyroid function in the cat”. J Nutr. 124:2577S-2578S.</ref>. Perhaps this was a temporary effect that eventually would have reverted to normal. It has also been suggested that excessive dietary iodine is a potential cause of feline hyperthyroidism but epidemiological studies have yet to identify a causal relationship<ref>Scarlett, JM (1994). “Epidemiology of thyroid diseases of dogs and cats”. Vet. Clin. North Am: Small Anim. Pract. 24:477-486.</ref>. | | There are conflicting reports of the effects of excessive iodine in cats. For example, Kyle et al. fed a diet containing an iodine content of 21 mg/kg DM to cats for 5 months and observed no clinical abnormalities or changes in serum free thyroxine levels<ref>Kyle, A, Tartellin, MF, Cooke, R, Ford, HC (1994). “Serum free thyroxine levels in cats maintained on diets relatively high or low in iodine”. New Zealand Vet. J. 42:101-103.</ref>. In contrast, another study reported a significant depression in serum free thyroxine when cats were fed a dietary iodine level of 13.8 mg/kg DM for only two weeks<ref>Tartellin, MF, Ford, HC (1994). “Dietary iodine level and thyroid function in the cat”. J Nutr. 124:2577S-2578S.</ref>. Perhaps this was a temporary effect that eventually would have reverted to normal. It has also been suggested that excessive dietary iodine is a potential cause of feline hyperthyroidism but epidemiological studies have yet to identify a causal relationship<ref>Scarlett, JM (1994). “Epidemiology of thyroid diseases of dogs and cats”. Vet. Clin. North Am: Small Anim. Pract. 24:477-486.</ref>. |