MSD Animal Health has announced the launch of Thyroid Month to help pet owners recognise the signs of thyroid diseases in cats and dogs and encourage them to seek advice from their veterinary practice.

Launching in July, the Thyroid Month campaign aims to raise awareness of hyperthyroidism in cats and hypothyroidism in dogs, educating pet owners to spot the signs and symptoms and thereby encouraging early diagnosis.

As part of the campaign, MSD Animal Health hopes to increase the number of pets being taken to their veterinary practice for diagnosis, as well as increasing return visits and treatment compliance in the long term. Practices supporting Thyroid Month will be provided with resources to help them educate pet owners about the two conditions.

Caroline Darouj, product manager at MSD Animal Health, said: “Although hyperthyroidism in cats and hypothyroidism in dogs are well known conditions and diagnosis is generally straightforward, a large number of vets in Europe state that both disorders are under-diagnosed, due to the fact that pet owners don’t recognise the signs.

“We wanted to launch our Thyroid Month campaign to encourage pet owners to spot the early symptoms of thyroid issues in their pets and seek advice from their veterinary practices.”