Canine Thyroid Disease

Hypothyroidism is a very common thyroid deficiency and a problem in canines. Pets that have this problem will start showing the symptoms from the time they are around 4 to 6 years old. Proper functioning of the thyroid gland is essential for the metabolic processes of the body. When the thyroid gland doesn’t work properly, it causes dog thyroid problems. This is a common health problem which can be found in both male and female dogs. This disorder usually affects mid to large sized dogs, miniature dogs are hardly ever affected.

Dog thyroid problems show variety of symptoms. Some of the major symptoms include unexplained increase in weight, sudden loss of hair, dry and flaky skin and unusual sleepiness. Some other symptoms to watch out for in your dog include mental dullness, excessive shedding, hyper pigmentation of the skin, cold intolerance, slow heart rate, high blood cholesterol and anemia, which are normally observable in dogs with hypothyroidism. Your pet might not be as bright and alert as it used to be, he may become more sensitive to cold and chilly weather.

Dog thyroid blood tests can be conducted to determine the levels of T3 and T4 hormones. A low count will indicate the malfunctioning of the thyroid gland. Another test for confirming the hypothesis is conducted, this test is called as the TSH test or the thyroid stimulating hormone test. After the diagnosis of this disorder, a number of successive blood tests might be conducted to see if the canine has overcome this disorder once and for all.

Treatment of this disorder can be done by administering the hormone thyroxin to your pet. Thyroxin helps in maintaining the normal rate of metabolism. The thyroid hormone is also available in an inexpensive tablet form. All dogs are given the dosages tailored according to their specific bodily requirements. Each veterinarian will have a plan of action based upon his treatment methods and the individual needs of your dog.

Dog thyroid treatments will have to continue throughout their life. Early diagnosis can help your dog survive for a healthy period of time. After the treatment has begun you shall notice that all the symptoms related to this disorder will disappear. Sometimes the hormones come within the normal ranges and then the treatment will stop. There is no need to panic once your dog is diagnosed with this disorder since it is not an unnatural phenomenon for a dog to have thyroid related problems.