Dosing

The dose rate and regime have to be tailored individually to each dog.

Starting dose rate: 20 µg L-thyroxine sodium/kg once daily = 0.2 mL per 10 kg

Dose rate for Leventa®
Body weight (kg)
Dosage (µg/kg)
10203040
Volume of the product (mL)
50.050.100.150.20
100.100.200.300.40
150.150.300.450.60
200.200.400.600.80
250.250.500.751.00
300.300.600.901.20
350.350.701.051.40
400.400.801.201.60
450.450.901.351.80
500.501.001.502.00

At re-examination 4 weeks later, dose adjustment should be performed based on the clinical response to treatment and thyroid hormone concentration evaluated 4-6 hours after administration of the product. Further assessment of hormonal responses and dose adjustment may be repeated at 4 week intervals if required.

Maintenance dose rate: between 10 and 40 µg/kg body weight once daily.

Once a suitable dose rate and regime have been established, it is recommended to recheck every 6 months that thyroid hormone concentrations are appropriate.

The improvement in clinical signs occurs differentially following the onset of treatment with L-thyroxine: whilst metabolic signs improve within two weeks after the onset of treatment, dermatological signs may require 6 weeks or more of treatment before improvement is seen.

The product should be administered at the same time every day. The absorption of L-thyroxine is influenced by food. In order to achieve consistent absorption of L-thyroxine, it is recommended to administer L-thyroxine 2-3 hours prior to feeding. If L-thyroxine is administered less than 2 hours before feeding, at or after feeding, the feed given (type and amount) should be standardized.

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Syringe

In a clinical trial, around 80% of dogs could be maintained on the starting dose of 20 µg/kg once daily.