deadeye ruck
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Jan 2009
Location: Rocky Mount, VA
Posts: 1274 |
Mike,
It has been my experience that the older they get the more they need to be medicated if they are hypothyroid in order to maintain a regular heat cycle. It may not be as noticeable in a younger female. They might vary a month or two one way or the other but they usually won't start skipping cycles until they get a little older. The good news is that usually after medicating them it seems like they become much more regular.
Like many things, the degree to which you see symptoms will vary from dog to dog according to their thyroid level but also just because all dogs are different.
Telltale signs-
1. Dog does not eat like they used to. They may still eat but will pick at their food.
2. Dog drinks more water than usual
3. Dog acts hotter than usual
4. Dog's coat begins to look dull and hair begins to look wirey/shabby. Some folks say they will loose some hair but I've never seen this.
5. Dog is not as active in the lot as they used to be. They might still be somewhat active but are just not quite theirselves
6. Dog acts strange in the woods.
Dog A- big hunting, deadly accurate hound that is a strong track dog- The dog would get struck but wouldn't finish a track and would just keep on hunting, sometimes 2-3 miles before I rounded it up. If the dog did get treed, it would usually be slick.
Dog B- medium hunter, deadly accurate that is a quick tree dog and average track dog. Started only hunting out about 100-200 yards, stood around, would come back to me, etc. When the dog would start a track and it bogged down would grab a tree. Before I noticed this, the dog was deadly accurate and would hunt out 800 yards- 1/2 mile or so most times.
It seemed like both of their "styles" became exaggerated when they weren't feeling good. The good news is that after treatment, both returned to their normal ways.
Some of these signs will be subtle while sometimes they are very evident. The unfortunate thing is that many of these symptoms are synonymous with tick disease that is so common here where we live. If the vet tells me their panel came back positive for lymes, I request a thyroid panel done also. What I have found is that many vets are quick to diagnose them with tick disease but more apprehensive to test younger dogs for thyroid problems. They are surprised when their thyroid levels come back low. Make sure you request they do a FULL thyroid panel (I think its called a T4 thyroid panel if I remember correctly)
Good luck! It's not really a big deal at all if you think much of the dog which I know that you do. i know how highly you think of your hounds and two pills twice a day in a hotdog is an easy fix to improve the quality of your dogs life and return them to the performance level they were once at. Many folks will tell you not to breed a dog like that but what they don't realize is that many big time, world championship and truck winners are on thyroid meds. It's not a big deal.
Let me know if I can help.
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Last edited by deadeye ruck on 05-25-2016 at 02:02 PM
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05-24-2016 01:46 AM
