Hypothyroidism?? UPDATE

[Stella]

UPDATE: So the vet called with the bloodwork results today and they are inconclusive.
T3 was 1.2 (normal range 0.9 - 2.1)
Total T4 was 18.3 (normal 13 ?? I was writing fast & may have this wrong!!)
TSH was 0.3 (normal 0 - 0.6)
Free T4 was 26 (normal 9 - 47)
Thyroglobulin Autoantibodies were Borderline

So, the vet wasn't too sure. She is going to do some research. She said we could start a trial of thyroid meds. But she was concerned that the thyroglobulin autoantibodies were related to autoimmune thyroiditis, and that maybe Prednisone would be better??? I really don't want to have to go down the steroid route unless it is absolutely essential. My gut is to ask for a trial period on thyroid meds and see what happens - if there is a change to his coat and / or behaviour. Her concern is that there is nothing objectively abnormal in the test results to measure improvement against. ..... I just want to get to the bottom of all this and get him feeling better!!! Any experts out these with advice???


Original Post: Does anyone here have a dog with thyroid issues?? What were the signs and symptoms? How did you get your dog diagnosed? Has the treatment been effective??

We are still struggling with Chases coat and skin, and our agility teacher recently commented on an apparent increase in his anxiety levels and deterioration in his ability to focus over the last few months. We had basic bloodwork done earlier this year, but it did not include the full thyroid panel. I was doing some reading, and a lot of the following applies to Chase.

"The typical history starts out with a quite, well-mannered and sweet-natured puppy or young adult dog. The animal was outgoing, attended training classes for obedience, working, or dog show events, and came from a reputable breeder whose kennel has had no prior history of producing animals with behavioral problems. At the onset of puberty or thereafter, however, sudden changes in personality are observed. Typical signs can be incessant whining, nervousness, schizoid behavior, fear in the presence of strangers, hyperventilating and undue sweating, disorientation, and failure to be attentive (canine cognitive dysfunction). These changes can progress to sudden unprovoked aggressiveness in unfamiliar situations with other animals, people and especially with children.

In adult dogs, moodiness, erratic temperament, periods of hyperactivity, lack of concentration, depression, mental dullness, lethargy, malaise, fearfulness and phobias, anxiety, submissiveness, passivity, compulsiveness, and irritability may be observed. After the episodes, most of the animals behave as though they were coming out of a trance like state, and are unaware of their previous behavior."

I also read that hypothyroidism can cause symptoms that mimic allergies (he gets what appear to be seasonal allergies and yeasty ears) as well as causing dry scaly skin & dandruff, itching, symmetrical bilateral hair loss, dull coat, changes in coat pigmentation - all of which he has.

I am planning on going back to the vet again. This time I'll ask for a full thyroid panel to be done (they just did T4 last time). I want to get to the bottom of whatever is going on with him.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I do know of quite a few doodles who are on thyroid meds, and the treatment has been very effective and not expensive.

Yes, some symptoms of hypothyroidism can look like allergies. In fact, JD's vet recommended a full thyroid panel before he had the allergy skin testing done, just to rule it out. 

[Teresa]

I had a dog many years ago with hypothyroidism. She was a very healthy Alaskan Malamute that all of a sudden started losing fur on her sides and exactly the same patches on each side of her body. The skin underneath also turned dark and very leathery. As soon as the patches started showing up I took her to the vet and he did a full thyroid panel. We put her on medication and the turn around was almost immediate. I did not notice a change in any behaviour but I think I caught it very early. With the Malamute coat (and I was showing her) it was obvious very quickly. Let us know what shows up on the test! Oh, and she lived a very long normal life after that. She remained on the same level of medication for the rest of her life and we just made sure to include the test annually, then bi-annually as she got older.

[Stella]

We have always put his behaviour down to him just being a "crazy dog", I have often said that if they start diagnosing dogs with ADHD, he's got it! The changes have happened so gradually that (apart from the hair loss) they have kind of crept up on us. But so much of the above statement applies to him. It took the objective view of our agility teacher to bring it home to me how much he has changed. I really hope this is the cause of his problems, particularly as it is relatively easy to treat.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We had a lab/Australian mix who developed thyroid problems when he was older.  On the basic panel the vet did, he was in the low normal range but on the full panel he was low.  He had never been a  grumpy dog and that was one of his symptoms.  His main symptom was his coat - he was down to his undercoat before beginning meds.  A HUGE difference.  He lost the grumpiness and his coat grew back and was so luxurious.

Our Springer developed a skin condition last year and we went to a dermatologist.  His was not thyroid, and her 'bandaid' treatment was so successful that we have postponed finding the cause at this time.   I recommend going to a specialist vet.  It was more expensive but the regular vet just was not able to correctly treat him. And as I said, the specialist's 'bandaid' was so much better than the regular vet that it was well worth the cost and he may be cured - we will see.

[Stella]

I'm really hoping it is his thyroid. But if those tests come back normal, I think we will ask for a referral to a specialist. I really feel he has some kind of hormonal / chemical imbalance. If we can find the cause and treat it, hopefully he will be a happier and healthier dog. He is going for bloodwork on Monday.

[Teresa]

Just wondering if you have an update?  How is Chase doing?

[Stella]

Hi Teresa, thanks for thinking of us.  He had his bloodwork done on Monday, I asked them to do a full Thyroid Panel rather than just the T4.  They said it would be seven days for the results, and Monday is a holiday here in Canada, so I expect we won't hear until Tuesday at the earliest.  Is it weird that I am hoping it is his thyroid and that we will have got to the bottom of this?!!

[Stella]

So, the vet called with the results, I have listed them above.  She wan't sure if he is hypothyroid, even though his presentation appears that way, because it wasn't definite in the bloodwork results.  She is going to do some research and get back to me!  Any other thoughts/ advice would be welcome!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

These results do not indicate hypo or hyperthroid disease. The borderline results for the thyroglobulin antibodies do not really help. If the re was a hypothyroid state the TSH should be high, it's not apparently.so I would look elsewhere for an explanation for Chase's problems. They may not have anything to do with a physical problem. At any rate I would not give thyroxin or prednisone based on these results.the symptoms you note are not specific and could relate to many things other than the thyroid.

[Stella]

Thanks F!!  Of all the things we have considered related to his coat change, hypothyroid really seemed to fit not only his coat, but also his behavioural issues.  I guess we have to keep looking.  I wonder if it work a referral to some kind of specialist - dermatologist / endocrinologist.... some other kind of -ologist?!!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

It might help but I'm not really sure what kind of ologist would be best. Chase could just be going through some seasonal allergy problems and have anxiety issues. How old is he? Maybe some of the others will have some ideas. Does Chase really like agility? Maybe it's not for him?

[Stella]

The coat changes become obvious in December last year, he has symmetrical hair loss on his back and flanks.  The hair that is there is a completely different colour and texture to the rest of his coat.  When I look back at photographs of him, even last summer the hair in this area had changed colour.  

Chase is four years old and this paragraph from above   "The typical history starts out with a quiet, well-mannered and sweet-natured puppy or young adult dog. The animal was outgoing, attended training classes for obedience, working, or dog show events, and came from a reputable breeder whose kennel has had no prior history of producing animals with behavioral problems. At the onset of puberty or thereafter, however, sudden changes in personality are observed. Typical signs can be incessant whining, nervousness, schizoid behavior, fear in the presence of strangers, hyperventilating and undue sweating, disorientation, and failure to be attentive (canine cognitive dysfunction). These changes can progress to sudden unprovoked aggressiveness in unfamiliar situations with other animals, people and especially with children" could have been written exactly about him.  

As a puppy he did well at obedience classes, and was very curious and sociable.  Through his teenage months he became increasingly fearful of new things, which progressed to reacting poorly around new dogs.  We always just put this down being 'a phase', but despite continued socialisation he never got better.  He has irrational fears of the weirdest things - feathers being one of them.  He is hyperactive, I always said if they begin diagnosing dogs with ADHD he'll be one of the first! The is also anxious, and recently began whine a lot.  When I read the paper on behavioural changes associated with thyroid disorders, and given that he has the coat changes, I was so sure that is what is wrong with him.  

We began agility training with him last year and he really took to it.  He progressed well, despite being distracted whenever my husband was around (he's very attached to my husband), and we could easily work him over 5-10 obstacles.  This year I can't even get him over two jumps in a row in class, but he is fine when we practice at home.  He seems to enjoy it, he gets excited when we go to the lessons.  It is just that he can't concentrate.  He definitely has gotten worse at his ability to focus and maintain focus for more than a few seconds!!