UKC Forums - Thyroid

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Posted by Preacher Tom on 10-29-2019 02:41 AM:

Thyroid

Before you say "Not another Thyroid Thread" I just have one question. Can it come and go? I have a dog that was just diagnosed with low thyroid. In the last 2-3 weeks he had just fallen apart. He has had a few episodes in the past where for a week or two he struggled and them would be back to doing things right. Could this have been his thyroid problem? No need to discuss everything else about low thyroid. That's been covered before.

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Posted by Dave Richards on 10-29-2019 03:28 AM:

Tom

While I am no expert on the subject, I suspect it could come and go where the levels are hanging around the low end and fluctuate. I am on thyroid meds myself and know a few things about the subject matter. The thyroid may be a small gland but has a great impact on our bodies when it's too low or too high. Dave

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Posted by Preacher Tom on 10-29-2019 03:46 AM:

Re: Tom

quote:
Originally posted by Dave Richards
While I am no expert on the subject, I suspect it could come and go where the levels are hanging around the low end and fluctuate. I am on thyroid meds myself and know a few things about the subject matter. The thyroid may be a small gland but has a great impact on our bodies when it's too low or too high. Dave

Dave his level was .9 which if I understand is too low for a working/hunting dog.

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Posted by Dave Richards on 10-29-2019 04:04 AM:

Tom

I have a specialist that treated me and got mine regulated. It's my understanding that it can take a while for low levels to affect us, but when it starts it can have serious effects on our bodies. Low level symptoms are dry skin, hair loss, slow heart rate, intolerance to cold and other symptoms. I froze in cooler weather before being treated. There are many causes of low thyroid, mine is an autoimmune disorder where my immune system attacked the thyroid in effect killing the thyroid gland. I suspect similar conditions occur in dogs, or it could even be feed related due to additives in the feed. Whatever the reason for your digs low thyroid level, it must be treated. It may take a while to get the levels regulated to the best level, but it can be done. While thyroid problems are very serious if untreated, treatment is simple and corrects the problem. Think of it like an allergy problem that can be treated with a daily pill, maybe 2. It's really no big deal to fix like some make it out to be. I have taken the same dose now for years, 1 pill in the morning on an empty stomach 1 hour before food in order to absorb in my system. Dave

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Posted by Dave Richards on 10-29-2019 04:17 AM:

Tom

Insist that the vet does a full panel test on the thyroid, some vets do not do a full panel test and may get the wrong diagnosis. Dave

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Posted by Sonny Phipps on 10-29-2019 10:08 PM:

Re: Tom

quote:
Originally posted by Dave Richards
Insist that the vet does a full panel test on the thyroid, some vets do not do a full panel test and may get the wrong diagnosis. Dave

X2

But yes it can and will move up and down. The more stress or harder you hunt them it will drop lower at times. At .9 you are prolly seeing effects of it, but not the clinical ones of dry skin and hair loss. It is very important to have full panel done to determine why it’s low. Please do not just start him on meds until it’s all tested and evaluated. JMO

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Posted by houndsound on 10-30-2019 11:38 PM:

Off topic a bit... but since I had never heard of thyroid issues years ago- a couple questions.

1. Is it specifically showing up in one breed (Walkers, Black and Tan, etc...)

2. If it shows up in a dog... are most people being responsible and not breeding that dog? Is it genetic?

Posted by Sonny Phipps on 10-31-2019 01:18 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by houndsound
Off topic a bit... but since I had never heard of thyroid issues years ago- a couple questions.

1. Is it specifically showing up in one breed (Walkers, Black and Tan, etc...)

2. If it shows up in a dog... are most people being responsible and not breeding that dog? Is it genetic?

I will prolly get beat on for this but I don’t think true thyroid dogs are not as common as a lot of folks want them to be or say they are. They are in all breed tho and often times people don’t even know if they have one or not. Many times a dog will get low levels when sick or run down badly. With that said it’s easy to get a T4 test done right in every vet office now days so folks think ole hi ball isn’t performing well and his T4 is low so he is a “thyroid dog” and start the pills. Many many times if the dog is given time to recover from tick illness or other run down factors the level will improve on its own , but we all want fast results so once the pills start , it often makes it hard to take them off them cause the body doesn’t produce the hormones it would have.

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Posted by Josh Michaelis on 10-31-2019 03:25 AM:

Re: Thyroid

quote:
Originally posted by Preacher Tom
Before you say "Not another Thyroid Thread" I just have one question. Can it come and go? I have a dog that was just diagnosed with low thyroid. In the last 2-3 weeks he had just fallen apart. He has had a few episodes in the past where for a week or two he struggled and them would be back to doing things right. Could this have been his thyroid problem? No need to discuss everything else about low thyroid. That's been covered before.

Unlikely. It wouldn't come and go in that short of a period.

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Posted by Preacher Tom on 11-09-2019 04:05 PM:

Well it's been a little over 2 weeks since Preacher was started on thyroid meds. In the last two hunts he has been the dog I was used to. Hunting good and looking sharp. It will take a few more hunts to know for sure but right now it looks like this was the problem. What I realize now is that he had gone down a lot before he got so bad it was obvious. Sure is fun to hunt this dog when he's right.

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Posted by Sonny Phipps on 11-09-2019 05:48 PM:

Tom, can I ask what type of blood test was done to determine he needed the thyroid medication ? Thanks

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Posted by Preacher Tom on 11-09-2019 09:28 PM:

Sonny we only did the basic test ($40 at my vet). I don't disagree with the guys that say you need the more complete test but my vet wanted to try 2 weeks on meds first. Her thought was he looks very healthy in every other way so if this works it will confirm the diagnosis. Don't know that I did the right thing but it seems to have worked.

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Tom Wood

Posted by Dave Richards on 11-09-2019 10:47 PM:

Tom Wood

I am glad to hear that your dog is doing better. Most folks are clueless on just how important the thyroid is to having a healthy animal. I can tell you that without the correct amount needed by our bodies, you are not going to operate normal. The thyroid controls every cell in our bodies in certain ways. Google hypothyroidism and read all you can, you should understand the issue the more you know. Low or high affects in different ways, know the difference by reading as much about the subject as you can find. Dave

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