Low Thyroid remedy - Page 1

Good afternoon everyone,

My female had her thyroid measure and for the T3 the reference range is between 75 and 200 hers was 40. For T4 the reference range is between 1 and 4 hers was 0.7. So she has Hypothoyroidism. What are some good medications that will get her levels up to normal and what is a good dosage of the medication?

What could having these low levels affect? I've posted on here a few times about my female not being one to swell very large when she is in season would putting her on this medication improve her heat cycles and the swelling of the vulva?

Thanks

My oldest male has Hypothoyroidism and he is given 3Mg of soloxine. So far he's doing pretty good with it.

As far as the amount to give to your girl all depends by her lab work. Your vet should've gave you a prescription right after she was given the diagnosis.

Most likley she will have to be on medication for the rest of her life. Instead of paying the outragous prices at the vets office I go to http://www.petcarerx.com and order my dogs medication for half of the price that my vet charges.

You should not breed this female by the way. I won't be a spay nazi so I won't tell you to spay her, just don't breed her because Hypothoyroidism can be pass down to her offsprings.

I'd not be so quick to say she has it. Run it again through Hemopet, Jean Dodds in Ca. Google her info.

Thanks guys I will run it again. My vet told me to run it again. I was just trying to get out of spending the money but there is no way around it

it has an affect on ability to concieve. I had a bitch like this some years back, put her on soloxine, got the levels to normal, she had one litter and missed several after that.

it is something you can work around, you have to decide if you want to be still dealing with it in future generation.


Rik 

I don't mean to sound harsh but if your dog was diagnose with having Hypothyroidism as a result of her having a diffcult time conceiving then why did you breed your bitch Rik? Unless if you stop breeding her soon after you found out about her diagnoses? Am I hearing this correctly?

you did hear correctly Brittany. and the reason I bred her was to maybe get a super star show dog. which I did. if you are thinking of writing me a ticket, I'm pretty sure the statue of limitations has run out.

to be honest, you can be as harsh as you want. folks should be on things like this. sadly, this wasn't even close to some of the things I did. nor was it considered out of line for the time. and it wasn't a drop in the bucket to some of the things I saw from the very top breeders in the country.

we didn't just wake up one morning and the GSD in America was suddenly the American Show Shepherd (ASS). some very influential folks had to put a lot of effort into getting them where they are today. I don't mind at all admitting what I did, what I have seen done or what I hope I learned from it.

best,
Rik

why in the world would you breed any dog for health problems??????????

http://www.2ndchance.info/doghypothyroid.htm
What Is Hypothyroidism?

A sluggish thyroid gland or hypothyroidism is the most common hormone deficiency in dogs. Pets that get this problem, usually start showing signs when they are 4 - 6 years old. Male and female dogs are equally affected but I have noticed that I see it more in neutered pets. This could be because these days, more people own neutered dogs than un-neutered dogs.

The thyroid gland consists of two small lobes located near the base of your pet's neck. This gland produces thyroxine, a hormone that regulates the body’s metabolic rate - that is the rate at which it burns calories. Think of it like gasoline supply to your car engine. When you press down on the accelerator, the car goes faster. When the thyroid gland releases more thyroxine, the body works faster.

What Happens If My Pet's Thyroid Gland Doesn't Produce Enough Thyroxine?

It is common for pets with hypothyroidism to gain weight while only eating moderately. These dogs have been described as “easy keepers” because they gain weight so easily.

That does not mean that most overweight dogs have thyroid disease – they are just eating too much, eating too rich a diet and get too little exercise. Many owners are oblivious to weight gain in their pets. But when an animal’s backs become flattened instead of curved and they huff and puff with every exertion some owners bring them in for a check up.

When owners bring me these pets, I run thyroid tests on all of them. The most important test is the pet's Free T-4 level - the level of active thyroxine in their blood.

How Did My Dog Become Hypothyroid?

Most cases of hypothyroidism are caused by the dog’s own immune system attacking its own thyroid gland tissue. This condition is called autoimmune thyroiditis. This type of hypothyroidism is further broken down into two types, lymphocytic thyroiditis and idiopathic thyroid atrophy. In both cases, the gland fails to produce enough of the hormone, thyroxine. It really doesn't matter which one your pet has because the signs and treatment are the same. We know that genetics plays an important role in this disease. That is why hypothyroid dogs and close relatives of hypothyroid dogs should not be bred.

What Breeds Are Commonly Affected?

I see Hypothyroidism most commonly in Labrador and Golden Retrievers, Dachshunds, Cocker Spaniels, Boxers Doberman Pinchers and Greyhounds - in that order of frequency. I rarely encounter this disease in terriers or other toy breeds but they do occasionally develop the problem.

 

Changes You Might See In Your Pet's Skin And Hair

Dogs need an adequate level of thyroid hormone to maintain normal skin and hair. When hormone levels are low, hair growth very slowly - particularly over the lumbar area equally on both sides. The back of the rear legs is also commonly balding.

The pet’s hair coat is often scurfy, flaky and dull. The coat often lacks finer body hairs and undercoat. Your pet's tail may become as bald as a rat’s tail. An important clue pointing to thyroid deficiency is that this hair loss is not itchy as it would be if the pet had fleas , allergic skin or infectious skin disease.

Hypothyroid dogs commonly have excess black pigment in the skin of their groin. This pigment results in a condition called acanthosis nigricans. Sometimes this pigment is present over much of the body and the skin becomes oily and thickened. Broken toenails and toenail infections are common in hypothyroidism. Your pet's hair coat color may change.

What About Reproductive Problems and Infertility?

Yes, Female dogs with hypothyroidism often cycle erratically and fail to get pregnant, have small liters or miscarry. It also affects male fertility. Hypothyroid male dogs may have low sperm levels and decreased libido. Pseudopregnancy or false pregnancy with milk flow and abdominal distension is common in these dogs (especially dachshunds). Hypothyroidism should never be corrected for the purpose of breeding these dogs.

Are There Other Signs Of Hypothyroidism I Might Recognize?

Yes, your pet might not act as bright as it once did. Hypothyroidism affects mental alertness and the ability to learn. You might also notice that your pet is more sensitive to cold and chilly weather.

A slow heart rate, constipation, anemia, muscle weakness and atrophy, nerve disturbances, edema, stunted growth, and slowed clotting of the blood can also be signs of hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroid dogs have more than their fair share of joint pain and swelling and ear and skin infections. Lazy behavior – such as increased sleeping, less play activity and easy fatigue can also indicate thyroid disease. It has also been reported that hypothyroid dogs have more “dry eye” disease (keratoconjunctivitis sica).

What Test Can Be Run On My Pet To Diagnose Hypothyroidism?

Laboratories that all vets use offer a Thyroid Profile. Some veterinarians include portions of this test on their yearly blood screens.

In dogs with this disease, blood entering the syringe is often creamy whitish in color due to the presence of large amounts of fats (triglycerides and cholesterol).