Vets treat Chihuahua with rare dwarfism condition
Pixie was diagnosed with hyposomatotropism.
A Chihuahua with a rare dwarfism condition is making good progress after receiving growth hormone treatment at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies’ Hospital for Small Animals.
Pixie was referred to the hospital when she was six months old after her veterinary surgeon had become concerned about her growth and development.
When referred to the hospital, she weighed less than 500 grammes. She was uncoordinated, her energy levels were very low, and she had collapsed several times due to low blood sugar despite being regularly fed. Her baby teeth had also still not been replaced with adult teeth.
The veterinary team at the hospital conducted a series of scans and tests, leading to a diagnosis of hyposomatotropism (pituitary dwarfism).
Pixie was prescribed regular injections of progesterone to stimulate the production of growth hormone from her mammary glands to replace the lack of hormones from her underdeveloped pituitary gland.
After a few months of the treatment, Pixie reached a healthy weight and body condition. She was also able to better regulate her glucose levels and gained her adult teeth.
The treatment will need to be continued for the rest of Pixie’s life and, despite now being a healthy weight, she will be smaller than other Chihuahuas.
Alisdair Boag, a senior lecturer at the Royal (Dick) School and an RCVS specialist in small animal medicine, said: “Pixie is a wonderful patient; watching her grow and thrive has been a real pleasure.
“It is so rewarding to see the positive difference we can make for our patients and their owners.”
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Joanne Webster, a professor of parasitic diseases at the RVC, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).
