Kathy West wrote 06/10/2009 02:56 PM Hypothyroidism #243242 - 06/10/2009 02:56 PM
Kathy West Webboard User Reg: 01-22-2008 Posts: 289 Loc: Nebraska Offline	Well, I took Fero in over the weekend to get his rabies shot and asked the vet to run a Thryoid test because he has gotten VERY fat over the last year or so even after reducing his diet alot there has been no weight lose at all. She didnt seem to think that was what was wrong with him but she ran the test and left a message last night that he does have a low thyroid. She said it was on the very low end of the normal range but for a dog his age (3.5yrs old) that it was too low. I left a message for her today to call me but the assistant did tell me they wanted to start him on meds for it. I know there are some members here with dogs with Thyroid problems, are there any specific questions I should ask her when she calls? Are there any bad side effects of taking meds for this? Is there any other conditions a dog can have that cause low thyroid production? Just making sure I'm covering all the bases....
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Connie Sutherland wrote 06/10/2009 03:23 PM Re: Hypothyroidism [Re: Kathy West ] #243243 - 06/10/2009 03:23 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	Was overweight the only symptom? Most common are lethargy/mental dullness, hair loss, weight gain, and dry coat, maybe intolerance to cold and maybe anemia. I think there are a couple others. What test(s) and what results? Anything besides the T4 test? The T4 is not sufficient to start meds, IMHO. More info before the meds* he mentioned is what I would want. *He'd be referring to some brand of thyroxine.
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Jo Harker wrote 06/10/2009 03:26 PM Re: Hypothyroidism [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #243245 - 06/10/2009 03:26 PM
Jo Harker Webboard User Reg: 10-24-2008 Posts: 921 Loc: Indiana Offline	Looking for dry flaky skin, lethargy, or anxiety, etc...a different personality than usual could indicate hypothyroid. Google hypothyroid and it does come up with some other causes or conditions where the thyroid appears to be affected. I'm with Connie. More than a T4? Look! I DO fit in the bag.
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Kathy West wrote 06/10/2009 03:35 PM Re: Hypothyroidism [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #243246 - 06/10/2009 03:35 PM
Kathy West Webboard User Reg: 01-22-2008 Posts: 289 Loc: Nebraska Offline	Well I've been reading up on all the different symptons and he does have a problem with dry skin and hair even with fish oil and E - when I brush him I get shocked (static electricity I guess)and his hair seems coarse (hes a long haired GS)and he goes thru spurts where when I brush him he has alot of dander on his back. He does not have reduced activity at all but he did become aggressive towards Sampson about 8 months ago and they've been separated since then but he has not shown any aggression towards Major so that probably is not a symptom of that. I asked the asst and she said they ran a T4 and that was it, I just called and his number level is 1.1
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Jo Harker wrote 06/10/2009 03:43 PM Re: Hypothyroidism [Re: Kathy West ] #243248 - 06/10/2009 03:43 PM
Jo Harker Webboard User Reg: 10-24-2008 Posts: 921 Loc: Indiana Offline	http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=461 Read this page when you have time, and do NOT put him on thyroid meds until you have done a complete test on Fero.  Quote: Testing for Hypothyroidism You would think testing for hypothyroidism would be simple: a blood test of the T3 or T4 level could be checked and if it is low, the patient is hypothyroid. Unfortunately, the situation is rarely so simple. ... Measurement of T4 The T4 level (also called the total T4 level) is measured commonly and is included in many routine screening blood panels. It would seem that a low T4 would indicate hypothyroidism and a normal T4 would indicate normal thyroid function. Unfortunately, it isn’t that simple. Dogs taking certain drugs (most notably seizure medications phenobarbitaland potassium bromide; prednisoneor other corticosteroids; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; the heart medication propranolol; the behavior drug clomipramine; or sulfa class antibiotics) or with illnesses other than thyroid disease often have depressed T4 secretion. These dogs will have low T4 levels but are not hypothyroid. This means a normal T4 indicates normal thyroid function but a low T4 may or may not indicate hypothyroidism. There is also a grey zone where T4 results are considered not definitively normal and not definitively abnormal. In short, T4 alone is not adequate to make a diagnosis of hypothyroidism. It should be noted that the sighthounds normally have much lower T4 levels than other breeds. In greyhounds, for example, the T4 levels typically run about 50% of what other breeds do. Interestingly, their T3 levels have the same normal range as other breeds. Sorry, didn't and don't want to sound bossy, but if Fero goes on meds and doesn't really need them, your dog is screwed...most likely. Edited by Jo Harker (06/10/2009 03:44 PM) Edit reason: apology and caution Look! I DO fit in the bag.
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Kathy West wrote 06/10/2009 03:43 PM Re: Hypothyroidism [Re: Kathy West ] #243249 - 06/10/2009 03:43 PM
Kathy West Webboard User Reg: 01-22-2008 Posts: 289 Loc: Nebraska Offline	Just a note - when I took him in to get neutered year and half ago he only weighed 85 (which I thought then he needed to loose 5 lbs) - embarrased to say he's 105lbs now!!! I couldnt believe it and had to put him back on the scale to make sure that he had gained 20 lbs in 1.5 years??? Hes on a raw diet, my other 2 dogs are healthy weight...
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Connie Sutherland wrote 06/10/2009 03:43 PM Re: Hypothyroidism [Re: Kathy West ] #243250 - 06/10/2009 03:43 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	That is indeed low-normal. I'd ask about additional tests, like the T3 Test or the Baseline TSH test. I'd be pretty unhappy that the vet was ready to start meds on a low-normal of T4 alone, but that's just me. There was no suggestion made about additional tests?
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Jo Harker wrote 06/10/2009 03:48 PM Re: Hypothyroidism [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #243251 - 06/10/2009 03:48 PM
Jo Harker Webboard User Reg: 10-24-2008 Posts: 921 Loc: Indiana Offline	...discussing free T4 level...the only acceptable way to do this is by a method called equilibrium dialysis. At this time, most labs offer equilibrium dialysis free T4 but it is important to realize that a free T4 level on a lab report is not an equilibrium dialysis free T4 unless it specifically says so. (Equilibrium dialysis free T4 is sometimes notated “fT4(ED)”.) Hambone had this done because I didn't and the vet didn't believe he could possibly be Hypothyroidal. He was. However, he is on a pill and doing great! He will probably have to up his pill sometime since he is still at a low dose and low level, but he takes his 2 x a day which is now the accepted way to do it to make sure levels stay constant. Actually, a pill helped him go from fat to more muscle, improved his appetite, energy, looks, etc. good Luck! Look! I DO fit in the bag.
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Connie Sutherland wrote 06/10/2009 03:49 PM Re: Hypothyroidism [Re: Kathy West ] #243252 - 06/10/2009 03:49 PM
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005 Posts: 31571 Loc: North-Central coast of California Offline	Quote: Kathy West ... he did become aggressive towards Sampson about 8 months ago and they've been separated since then but he has not shown any aggression towards Major so that probably is not a symptom of that. ... Also, that would be rare with hypo, I think, and more something I'd look for with HYPERthyroidism.
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Jo Harker wrote 06/10/2009 03:51 PM Re: Hypothyroidism [Re: Connie Sutherland ] #243253 - 06/10/2009 03:51 PM
Jo Harker Webboard User Reg: 10-24-2008 Posts: 921 Loc: Indiana Offline	NOT to disagree with you Connie, but Hambone was very aggressive toward the end and going after me even. There are studies out now that show dogs with low normal levels are sometimes handler aggressive. A university, Tufts, (I will have to google), was doing a study on it. It is rare, but it happens. Edited by Jo Harker (06/10/2009 03:52 PM) Edit reason: Added Tufts Look! I DO fit in the bag.
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