Who knows about thyroid in a dog?

Dyan, you might want to consider sending a blood sample to Dr. Dodds--she does very comprehensive thyroid testing and provides breed-specific information. She's at Hemopet at  http://www.hemopet.org/ I think she also has a new book out about canine thyroid issues, but I haven't see it/read it yet. A lot of the IMHA dogs/humans have consulted with her and had her lab to testing. 

Thank you...I honestly do know about Dr. Dodds...have her info in my information for years.  I did not do it though...my vet explained how we took it to one of the largest labs.............only thing I can do is take him to another vet for another blood test to send...and I really don't have the money now..just spent $300 3 days ago.  I would do it anyway if I really had a reason...which I don't right now...but want to stay on top of it.                I just wondered if anyone knew or had any experience or thoughts on that reading.

Trying to kind of straighten my head out with all the reading I have been doing on this.  Including I swear I read that the best test is the  TSH and that it is no longer available...so I guess I didn't understand THAT right.

 The difference with Dr. Dodds isn't just the test itself; more importantly the interpretation of the results she provides with them. The thing is that the normal range is fairly broad. Just because the numbers are within the normal range it doesn't mean they are ideal for an individual dog.

dyan

I did not do it though...my vet explained how we took it to one of the largest labs.............only thing I can do is take him to another vet for another blood test to send...and I really don't have the money now..just spent $300 3 days ago.  I would do it anyway if I really had a reason...which I don't right now...but want to stay on top of it.              

Sorry that's why I told you before you *took* him to INSIST on it going either to Dr. Dodds or Michigan State. (they still use the protocols she developed when she was head of endocrinology there)  It's completely different -- Dr. Dodds has developed **SEPARATE** protocols -- any labe in the nation just puts the same graph against the results.  Whether it's a chihuahua or a rottweiler or a dane or a bassett hound.  The point is that the **breed specific** protocols are completely different.

 Sorry -- I would just plain INSIST that my vet send the bloodwork where *I* want it to go!  Now some vets find it easier to send it to Michigan State than to Dr. Dodds (not wanting a mere vet to sound more intelligent than they are, but acknolwedging that Michigan State's lab is superb and acceptable, particulalry where you are!!)  I would be astonished if your vet, living where you do, had a problem with sending it to Michigan State.  Heck, my vet in Florida uses them!

But -- regarding your results -- the TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is working but NOT hard.  That level is low, AND the other levels are low.  So the TSH is working (if it were zero that would be a whole separate problem).  But as it is, the body isn't sensing there *is* a problem despite the fact that the levels are pretty low -- so this is another indicator that supplementation needs to happen.

But the problem is the TSH is often inaccurate which is why it's fallen out of favor.  Try looking at Dr. Dodds FAQ page - it will answer a LOT of your questions:

FAQ Page

Vets can have sesnitive egos -- but sometimes you simply have to say "I want the test to go to ___________ so we can get the breed-specific results".  My vet was leelry at first UNTIL we got Billy's results (after having his thyroid tested FOUR times in a year and having it come back "pretty ok" then we send it to Michigan State and it was **definitely** low!!). 

 Now my vet sends it to either Michigan State or Dr. Dodds LOTS of times for clients because it tends to give more accurate results.

Now you might also look at the info on her Nutriscan -- she has a new saliva test for food allergies if you have questions about that.  She's *just* released that finally.  I knew it was going to be available but it's finnally ready apparently.

erica1989

Is he showing any SIGNS of being a thyroid dog? Excess shedding, weight loss/gain, loss of energy, etc? If not, I would just wait 6 months and retest him at that time.

  I agree. Dyan, as you know, I have an allergy dog, and the problems you're describing sound like allergies. They can be to the environment, food, or a combination of both, as in Jessie's case.

 ETA; When Jessie went to Purdue to see a dermatologist about her allergies, one of the tests the dermatologist did was a thyroid test. She had it sent to Michigan State because they run a more complete panel than Purdue. It can back normal even though Jessie was suffering miserably with very itchy ears and red feet.

Thanks for you input everyone.    First thing about the vet I went to...he is from Egypt and talks very broken English and is really different, ( don't know how else to put it )..I worked with him and just love him..and he loves Gibby and is so nice to everyone.... and when I was there I did mention Dr. Dodds and that maybe I could have it sent to her and somehow I just felt he didn't really get it at all...  and I just went on kind of feeling a little sick thinking that the result would be just how I feel now.... doubt.  So..that was my fault. My thought is that my old vet from years ago still practices, is about as inexpensive as can be for a vet ( I used to take Ollie there for HW test every 6 months when we tested him but didn't give him HW prevention )  I was going to take Bubby to her but a few circumstances came up and I didn't. She does NOT have a good reputation.  But I think she might be one that I could ask to get it done and have it sent away. 

What a good idea Erica.... wait the 6 months because I just had this one done and obviously he doesn't have major thyroid problems.. and no, he does NOT have classic signs.   I actually took him in for his feet that look just really quite bad from licking them to death...something that he has never done before.  He has had ear problems on and off...and his skin has some discoloration that I keep asking a vet what it is and everyone shrugs it off because it doesn't bother him.  More than anything... he should have been tested as a baby and wasn't...and knowing Bubblegum was borderline and finding later that  autoimmune problems such as Megaesophagus and thyroid CAN be in the same sentence, even though her vet said no. He has had his share of problems, none of them really big...but just think that maybe we should check into this.  I DO intend to have it done again....  read that Danes that are on the lower side of normal should be put on meds for it. I believe that one of the places was from the Great Dane Club of America.

I know so many of you guys on this forum are so knowledgable about certain dog illnesses that I wanted to come here with these reading.

 Dyan, get yourself a different vet - one that sends the thyroid test to Michigan or Hemopet and knows how to interpret.  Skin problems CAN be associated with hypothyroidism, and the dog doesn't have to be that far off normal to have it happen. One of the symptoms that made me test my dog was that she had one hot spot, but also lack of hind end awareness, not a very heavy coat, and increasing anxiety and aggression.  Sequoyah is hypothyroid and it took me a while to put the symptoms together because this wonderful little tome wasn't written yet at the time, and her symptoms were there, but subtle:
http://www.amazon.com/Canine-Thyroid-Epidemic-Answers-Need/dp/1617810169/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315871648&sr=8-1

The skin thing could be totally unrelated, or it could be your biggest clue.  You are spending way too much money not to get answers.   My vet was only too glad to test both my Aussies, even the one that was asymptomatic just so I could have a baseline for her.

And, do this test again before you go to allergy testing.  It's cheaper.  If Gibby needs medication, thyroxine is cheap, too, and might solve the problem.  Sequoyah does very well on it and has only had to increase her medication dose once in five years.

Funny Erica... steriods is just what our vet was trying to avoid.

This is the first time that I/we have every thought of, considered or talked about allergies.  This licking feet thing is the very first time this has ever happened and I'm seriously not sure its anything but anxiety because he does have seperation anxiety and is hyper. Even his ears....I keep on top of them mostly by keeping them clean...when I don't is when he starts scratching. In spring is the very first time he has been on any medication for them......just that again....I have to stay on top of them or her has problems.  

Allergies is a new thought and I started thinking of thyroid while reading up on yeast.   That is why I had him tested as he really does not have the  clasic symptoms. I figured it was a good start.   He has had stomach problems in the past...but while at the time I thought it was food.... I really think it was also anxiety...it happened mostly after being left alone for an evening or something big going on.

I will have him thyroid tested again, and I have something to refer to, and I will get the next test to Dr. Dodds. I really like that 6 month idea because it not too long and it gives me an extra few months to pay for it...even gets us past the holidays.   At this point if he has allergies it not a big deal and I won't have him tested...he is not suffering..scratching... biting or any of those things...he IS licking but as I said he is licking himself AND other things, when we stop him from licking himself he starts licking us.  Having Ollie who had to be taken to a specialist for allergies....that is a dog that was having a problem.

spiritdogs

 Dyan, get yourself a different vet - one that sends the thyroid test to Michigan or Hemopet and knows how to interpret. 

You know..... its just so weird.....these results came back just like our human test results come back....with your test results and then a Lab range..... guessing that often each lab has a little different range. 

But.........isn't it aggravating if you or your dog is in the NORMAL RANGE that its still not correct? 

dyan

You know..... its just so weird.....these results came back just like our human test results come back....with your test results and then a Lab range..... guessing that often each lab has a little different range. 

Any lab other than MIchigan State or Dr. Dodds are going to use the SAME grading system -- it's standard.  What MS and Dr. Dodds use are HER (Dr. Dodd's) breed-spectific protocols that she developed.

So no -- your vet is trying to put his own spin on it for some reason.  He seems to really want you to see *him* as some kind of authority which is where this all falls apart for you.

Allergies in dogs *increase* as they age.  It's not uncommon and you said the magic word when you said he started licking **this spring**.  Allergy time. 

 Dyan, I went and looked up the pollen counts for your area for this month.

http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/allergies/almanac/USOH0195?pollentype=weed

It has been very high/high for mold and weed. Weed usually means Ragweed. I know that it has been high here as well, Kord's allergies progressed to me having to go and get meds because OTC were not helping. 

Kord is due for a re testing on his Thyroid. I agree with finding another vet, I also think that unless his issue's get worse, waiting 6 months might be the ticket. Good Luck.