Thyroid diseases in rodent species.

There are an abundance of studies of thyroid disease in rodents in a laboratory setting; however, research is limited in pet rodent populations. Validated reference intervals for thyroid testing are scarce, making interpretation of blood work difficult. Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism have been reported in multiple rodent species, with the most data available for guinea pigs. Thyroid neoplasia has been reported in the most common rodent species, although often as an incidental finding at necropsy. Further research is needed to determine frequencies of disease, methods of diagnosing, and treatment options with the best efficacy.