Dog Thyroid Problems

Author
Discussion

akita1

Original Poster:

487 posts

199 months

Wednesday 4th July 2012
quotequote all
Hi All,has anybody had any experience of their dog (male) having a low thyroid count? My Akita was originally diagnosed as having an enlarged prostate and had a slow release implant implanted to shrink it,I say originally diagnosed as all my internet research and contact with the Akita welfare suggested thyroid problems,anyway as the implant has begun to wear off he is still very lethargic,stiff joints and very miserable even more so than before and I cant help thinking that the implant masked the thyroid problem as some of the side effects are the same as the thyroid problem Anyway took him to the vet yesterday fearing the worst if I am being honest but after a good chat with the vet and blood tests they came back with a low thyroid count,he is now on tablets which are Soloxin a synthetic thyroid replacement .If possible could anyone share their experiences with me May Thanks Bill&Zak the Akita.

bexVN

14,682 posts

210 months

Wednesday 4th July 2012
quotequote all
Generally a low thyroid condition should be straightforward to treat.

There will be blood tests needed at regular intervals to check the dose is correct and working for him but basically it's direct observation.

He should perk up, lose weight, improve coat condition and generally not seem so fed up with life smile

The other bonus is apart from the blood tests (one two weeks to a month after start of tx and then one every 3-6 months) is one of the cheaper long term conditions to treat.

Hope he responds well. There are different thyroid meds should the Soloxine not do the job (there is a liquid drug, that is more expensive but works very well).

baker77

149 posts

210 months

Wednesday 4th July 2012
quotequote all
Our mini bull terrier (female) has hypothyroid, she was diagnosed a year and a half ago, not long after we took her on. She was very lethargic, used to refuse to go out for a walk and slept all day as well as all night, was overweight, her claws were a dark red colour instead of being white/cream and her coat was dull, with bald patches on her chest/neck and between her back legs. She was immediately put on to medication (she has Forthyron tablets) and although it took a while for the medication to take effect she is now almost a completely different dog, she lost weight and is now just a lump of muscle, her coat is beautiful and shiny and the bald patches have grown back although still not as much as I'm sure it used to be, her claws are back to their proper colour and she loves going out for walks, we were out for 2 hours this morning, something there was absolutely no chance of doing with her when we first got her, she even bounces around the house when she knows we're getting ready to go out for a walk. She has to have a check up and blood test every 6 months to make sure the medication she gets is still right for her, but so far it's all going really well.

akita1

Original Poster:

487 posts

199 months

Wednesday 4th July 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies,sounds exactly like my boy hair loss,letargy.sleeping all the time,hope this treatment works its killing me seeing him like this.

JCW

904 posts

206 months

Wednesday 4th July 2012
quotequote all
He should be fine. Our Ridgeback was diagnosed with a low thyroid count exhibited by coat loss but after six weeks of twice daily tablets has regrown all of his coat.