Hypothyroidism

[akita1]

Hi All, This may be a long shot but has anybody had a dog that has suffered from Hypothyroidism ? if so maybe you could let me know of the symptoms and treatment please Thanks.

[bexVN]

Lethargy, slow heart rate, poor coat and weight gain some of the symptoms.

Diagnosis is blood testing, if confirmed treatment is daily medication in liquid or tablet form and re assessing blood levels and general condition on a regular basis.

The good news is that treatment is relatively simple, it is usually lifelong medication is not too expensive (esp the tablets) but blood sampling is usually at least every 6 months onces stabilised.

Edited by bexVN on Tuesday 10th January 19:45

Edited by bexVN on Tuesday 10th January 22:05

[Mrs Grumpy]

Often quite grumpy too

Jean Dodds is the world's authority on thyroid issues in dogs. There's a load of stuff on the net if you google her

[bexVN]

I find they are more just miserable than grumpy. They look like they get a new lease of life once it's corrected

[baker77]

Our mini bull terrier has hypothyroidism. When we got her (she was 7) she was overweight, very lethargic, she would sleep all day and all night, didn't want to go for walks, really felt the cold, had no fur on her throat or between her back legs and her claws were an extremely dark red colour. She had a blood test to diagnose it and has been on tablets since, she is now a healthy weight, still sleeps a lot, but not constantly and is happy to go for walks even when the temperatures have been as low as freezing. Her fur has grown back a bit, but not fully and her claws have mostly gone back to their normal whitish colour with the dark red around the top of the claws, she was diagnosed almost a year ago and is due a blood test at the end of Jan to check the medication level. If you saw her you wouldn't know anything was wrong with her and she is perfectly normal, it's just that she has to take the tablets every day for the rest of her life.

[Mubby]

I've had hypothyroidism for about 10 years and all above symptoms are the same with me! although my coats fine! WOOF!

[Mrs Grumpy]

bexVN said:

I find they are more just miserable than grumpy. They look like they get a new lease of life once it's corrected

That too

I've often heard people say that the first real sign they've seen of it has been when the dog has done something quite out of character, like go for one of their other dogs

[bexVN]

Mrs Grumpy said:

bexVN said:

I find they are more just miserable than grumpy. They look like they get a new lease of life once it's corrected

That too

I've often heard people say that the first real sign they've seen of it has been when the dog has done something quite out of character, like go for one of their other dogs

It would make sense and I did actually witness this with a couple of dogs a few months ago, the dog that attacked his mate was tested a short while after and was diagnosed. He's doing well now

[Karyn]

baker77 said:

[ClassicMercs]

Our old collie rescue must have been on the pills now for 7 or 8 years - nearly 17yo now. Its therefore that long ago that I can't remember all the symptoms.
The weight gain was probably the biggest probable thing from memory. She's now sleek though - mostly due to age.
Coat is an interesting one. Its certainly changed over the years. Now really thick at times and moults in very odd patterns. How much of that is just age ?
In view of age and condition we have given up with regular blood tests. The pills are still taken to help heart function though. When she had her fit late last spring the first part of her heart beat failed. The rate halved. Now with an extra heart / circulatory pill its back to normal levels, and the thyroid pill just helps.
Not a problem to worry about and easily sorted at minimal cost (for a change).