we need help!!!!!! - Page 1

Hi guys I am not new to this forum,though this is my first post.I have a lovely Valium daguhter who I house for a good friend. She is chronically hypothyroid(T3,T4) all low.Similar to Hashimoto's in humans.Her free thyroxin is OK. I HAVE NEVER BRED HER. She had some chronic skin trouble when she was 2-3 years of age.This went undiagnosed for sometime after which she was put on ELTROXIN 100mg (6-0-6) and is now down to (3-0-3).As i do not have access to many of the latest ideas about vet science and I had to diagnose her condition myself(the vets here were pumping her with IVERMECTIN and steroids & no I dont blame them as they are open to ideas),I would be grateful if someone could help me out. She is in perfect health now though her skin tends to trouble me as she come into season(hormone necessity increase?).She is now 5 yrs and is in her 3rd day of esterus.

There is a lot of controversy on the correct thyroid levels for dogs, and also if medication is needed, then how much of it should be given. I have spoken to a regular MD a few years back who has given up to 900mcg (I am sure you were referring to 100mcg above, mg would be 10 times the amount) to his own dogs without ill effects. For people the same controversy is going on actually. The product choice is good, it is the equivalent to the better known cytomel. Which provides the T3. The T4 is converted into the T3, which is then utilized by the body. Many people and dogs that are on the T4 or a combination product do not do as well as with a T3 drug. Its a trial by error situation though, every body reacts differently. There are some theories that free hormone levels may be ok in the tests, but the body still cannot utilize any or too little of the free hormones available. Comparable to insulin restiance. Lots there, maybe even too much, but the body is not using it. Sometimes it is enough to kick start the process again by giving a course of thyroid hormones, then stop and see if any of the improvements while on the product will be reversed. If your dog has been on it successfully for a while, looks like it is there to stay. The dosage may be too low still, or too high. Either could apply. Again, trial and error. Once you supplement you have to go by symptoms to see if there are improvements or not, or if you get side effects. You might also want to consider breaking the single dose up into two separate half doses per day to keep the hormone level more steady throughout the day. You can get a special slow release version made up by a compounding pharmacist that releases the hormone over an 8-10 hour period. Your vet needs to prescribe it like as such, you cannot just take your regular prescription in. We have had some mixed results with thyroid treatments with some of the problem dogs we had in for training in the past. Dogs can handle a much higher dose than people. Improvements usually show fast, but it can be difficult to find the right dosage. Especially when side effect are concerned. Check the fat content of your dog food, it may be too low in fat, it should be about 15%. As always I recommend Eagle dog food (www.eaglepack.com - start with original adult). Eagle also has kelp = iodine, which improves thyroid function. You can also add one drop of an iodine solution called Lugols solution (pharmacy) to the drinking water every day. Put out fresh water once a day and add one drop. If you do that you need to retest the dog after a while to see if it had any effect on the thyroid levels and also monitor changes in overall wellness. If heat cycles are the only time that she is experiencing skin troubles, then you should consider spaying her. Best time is about 3 months after her last heat. In women, birth control pills can improve some of the low thyroid symptoms. Why did your dog need steroids?

Max, You say she's in perfect health now, so presumably the Eltroxin is doing its job but it can produce a number of nasty side effects of its own though! I can't quite figure how the Ivermectin fits into all this, although its overuse often manifests itself as itching and other skin problems:

Hello MAx, There is information about Hypothyroidism; indications, diagnosis, treatment; on the Merck website. "www.merckvetmanual.com" Look under the endocrine section on the menu at the right side of the page. I will give you good info to review and discuss with your vet for treatment. Beardog