Hypothyroidism in dogs can be a tricky condition to diagnose and manage. Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby teams up with her colleague and friend, Jennifer Shepherd, DVM, to reveal the truth about hypothyroidism in dogs including the common misconception that a T4 test is all you need for an accurate diagnosis. Learn the causes, symptoms, and treatment for canine hypothyroidism.
I’m willing to bet that in your circle of family and friends, you know someone who takes medication to manage low levels of thyroid hormone, or hypothyroidism. Maybe it’s even you personally. If so, you’re not alone—an estimated 20 million Americans have some type of thyroid dysfunction.
Hypothyroidism is a common condition diagnosed in dogs—but in my professional opinion, I believe thyroid disease one of the most over-diagnosed conditions in veterinary medicine. By the end of this article, you’ll see why.
Before jumping ahead, let’s review the role of the thyroid gland and then move on to the markers that yield an accurate diagnosis of canine hypothyroidism.
What is the thyroid gland?
If you remember from high school biology, the thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system. Although you can’t see or feel it, your dog’s thyroid gland sits in his neck on either side of his trachea (windpipe). It produces hormones that regulate your dog’s various body systems. When certain hormone levels dip below a normal range it results in hypothyroidism.
One hormone produced by the thyroid gland is called thyroxine (T4). It is crucial to controlling your dog’s metabolism. When there is not enough of it circulating in your dog’s body, his metabolism slows down and his cells don’t have the energy to do what they need to do.
Diagnosing hypothyroidism in dogs: T4 and the big picture
Before diagnosing hypothyroidism in dogs, it’s critical to understand the big picture when it comes to T4.
Routine blood panels often include a total T4 (TT4) level for good measure. Quite often, however, the T4 value comes back low, causing concern that the patient has hypothyroidism. This is where it gets tricky—hypothyroidism is just one of several reasons for low T4. Dogs can have low T4 values from:
- Age-related changes: It’s normal for circulating blood thyroid hormone levels to decline with age.
- Daily fluctuations: It’s completely normal for T4 levels to rise and fall throughout any given day.
- Euthyroid sickness: Euthyroid means “having a normally functioning thyroid gland.” In this case, there’s nothing wrong with the dog’s thyroid, but the T4 values are low because the thyroid gland is reducing hormone production in response to illness somewhere else in the body.
- Certain medications: Prescription medications, like prednisone, can lower T4 levels. With prednisone, in particular, levels often remain low long after stopping the medication.
Because of the range of causes of low T4, I’m convinced that some dogs on daily thyroid medication don’t need to be.
How to test for hypothyroidism in dogs
Recently I told a client that I suspected her 7-year-old Golden Retriever was hypothyroid. She replied, “Oh, so I need to get her T4 tested?” It made me pause and say, “Well, yes. That’s a good place to start.”
The TT4 screening test: A good place to start
The TT4 (total T4) is a screening test and no more. If the TT4 comes back in the upper 50% of the reference range, your dog does not have hypothyroidism. A low normal TT4 level could be normal for your dog, or it could be the early stages of hypothyroidism. Regardless, if a TT4 comes back suspect, additional tests must be run to confirm a diagnosis of canine hypothyroidism.
So what’s after an initial TT4 screening?
After an initial TT4 screening that shows low T4 concentration, the gold standard is further blood tests which are usually more expensive. To be practical, compassionate, and work within my client’s comfort level, I generally propose three options:
- Monitor the dog, and repeat the basic blood panel down the road. This option depends on the dog’s clinical status and overall health.
- Run the additional diagnostic testing—pricey but the current gold standard.
- Begin a month-long trial on thyroid medication then repeat the T4 value.
Because option three is often the only viable choice for owners with financial limitations, over-diagnosis can occur. Confusing the matter even further, sometimes dogs feel and do better on the medication, even if they did not have a primary thyroid problem.
The Merck Veterinary Manual confirms this when they explain: “Many diseases and conditions can mimic hypothyroidism, and some of the clinical signs, even in dogs with normal thyroid function, can improve after administration of exogenous supplemented thyroid hormone.”
Here’s what usually happens. A dog owner decides to try thyroid medication for a month after receiving a low T4 on a blood panel. The month goes by, and the dog returns for a follow-up. The owner believes the dog has improved during that month, and the repeat T4 level comes back much higher but not “crazy high.” When this happens, the dog will usually stay on thyroid medication for life.
As long as your veterinarian monitors your dog’s T4 levels every six to twelve months, this usually works out okay. Rarely, I do see toxicosis in dogs from overdosing on thyroid medication. Symptoms of overdose include hyperactive behavior, increased thirst and urination, and heart issues.
A comprehensive thyroid panel to test for hypothyroidism
If a dog owner chooses to run additional blood tests, some veterinarians recommend skipping the screening TT4 test to check a more robust thyroid panel initially. In the long run, this can save time and money. The more comprehensive thyroid panel must be sent off to a reference lab.
One of the most common thyroid panels consists of a TT4, a fT4 (free T4), and a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level. Incidentally, these are all tests routinely run in people, too. TT4 and fT4 are both forms of the thyroxine hormone. Free T4 is less affected by non-thyroid illness or medications (i.e. less false positives) but is also harder to accurately measure, and thus, a more expensive test.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain, and it tells the thyroid gland when to produce thyroid hormone. When the body doesn’t want the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormone, as in cases of euthyroid sickness, the TSH levels are low, leading to low T4 levels.
However, in cases of true hypothyroidism, there is not enough thyroid tissue to produce T4. The pituitary gland senses the low levels of T4 and ramps up production of TSH to stimulate the thyroid gland to increase its production. If the TSH level is high and free T4 or TT4 are low, your dog most likely has canine hypothyroidism.
But in order to know for sure, you also need to look for two other critical markers.
Diagnosing true canine hypothyroidism: Clinical signs
I’ve covered the first marker of canine hypothyroidism—low TT4. But that alone isn’t enough for an accurate diagnosis of hypothyroidism. You, in partnership with your veterinarian, need to note your dog’s clinical presentation and signalment (age and breed).
1. Clinical presentation: signs of hypothyroidism
When considering a diagnosis of canine hypothyroidism, I begin with a thorough physical exam. Several questions run through my mind:
- Does the patient exhibit clinical signs? Symptoms of hypothyroidism include hair loss (alopecia), scaly skin, skin infections, and lethargy.
- Is he overweight or obese? (Keep in mind that the most common reason for obesity in dogs is not hypothyroidism—it’s overfeeding and lack of exercise.) For help determining whether your dog is overweight, see my post: Your Dog’s Body Condition Score (BCS): Find Your Dog’s Number in 3 Easy Steps.
It’s interesting that metabolic diseases like canine hypothyroidism can share symptoms and this list could also fit a condition called Cushing’s disease. Learn more about Cushing’s disease in my post: Cushing’s Disease In Dogs: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Medications.
As a general rule, I suspect hypothyroidism when my patient has a weight problem plus something else. For example:
- Weight problem plus chronic ear infections, hyperpigmented (dark) skin with unexplained hair loss, or a drop in energy level.
- Weight problem plus high cholesterol (even after fasting for the blood test). Over half of truly hypothyroid dogs will display high cholesterol on fasted bloodwork. So this is a great tip-off!
PRO TIP: Since a minimum of a 12-hour fast is ideal, I recommend you schedule your dog’s lab work for the morning and fast from dinner the night before. During the fast, water is completely fine. I explain fully in my post about how to improve dog lab tests.
2. Signalment: Age and breed
Although hypothyroidism can occur in dogs of all ages and breeds, it’s most common in middle aged dogs around two to eight years old. The average age of diagnosis is seven. Males and females are affected equally, but hypothyroidism is most prevalent in the following breeds:
- Golden Retrievers
- Doberman Pinschers
- Irish Setters
- Miniature Schnauzers
- Dachshunds
- Cocker Spaniels
- Great Danes
As you can tell, this condition usually shows up in medium- to large-size dog breeds. I don’t see it very often in toy or mini breeds.
Now that you know the three markers of true canine hypothyroidism—low TT4, clinical presentation, and signalment—let’s take a closer look at its causes, how it’s treated, and a few atypical symptoms.
What causes hypothyroidism in dogs?
There are two common causes of hypothyroidism in dogs: lymphocytic thyroiditis and idiopathic atrophy.
- Lymphocytic thyroiditis causes the slow destruction of the thyroid gland by the immune system. Genetics do play a role in its development as the autoimmune disease, equivalent to Hashimoto’s disease in humans, may be inherited.
- Idiopathic atrophy is the shrinking of the thyroid gland with no known cause. It occurs when the functioning cells of the thyroid gland are replaced with adipose tissue (fat).
Both lymphocytic thyroiditis and idiopathic atrophy occur slowly over time.
In either condition, you may notice your dog gradually gaining weight, developing ear infections, losing his hair coat, or facing decreased levels of energy. Because the signs come on slowly, you may just think this is the normal aging process for your dog. More than likely, however, after discussing these concerns with your veterinarian, he or she will recommend thyroid testing.
It’s worth mentioning that cancer can also lead to hypothyroidism (and hyperthyroidism, for that matter). However, both are rare. Cancer accounts for less than 5% of cases of hypothyroidism in dogs.
How do vets treat canine hypothyroidism?
Medication for hypothyroid dogs
Treatment for hypothyroidism involves boosting the low hormone with a synthetic (manufactured) hormone called levothyroxine. Most dogs receive levothyroxine twice daily, but some dogs do well on once-daily treatment.
Dosing is not something that you should adjust yourself, so speak to your veterinarian about ideal recommendations for your dog. Finding the appropriate dose for each individual patient also sometimes takes some tweaking, so follow up bloodwork and dose changes are usually part of initial treatment. I also recheck thyroid levels one to two times per year in my well managed patients, just to be sure their dose is still appropriate.
Once your dog starts on levothyroxine, you should expect to see an increase in his energy level within a few days. Skin problems, ear infections, and changes in hair coat may take four to eight weeks before noticing improvement. With treatment, most pet parents notice their dogs develop an increase in appetite and weight loss. I will say, it’s a beautiful thing to see the before and after changes in a hypothyroid dog who has been diagnosed and appropriately treated.
What are the atypical symptoms of canine hypothyroidism?
Although skin changes, weight gain, and lethargy are the most common clinical signs, hypothyroidism can also present with other less-common clinical syndromes like:
- Lipid (fatty) deposits on the corneas of the eyes
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Megaesophagus in dogs (dilation of the esophagus)
Tragic face in hypothyroid dogs
In moderate to severe cases of canine hypothyroidism, an odd thickening can occur in the dog’s skin called “myxedema.” This is caused by deposits of polysaccharides in the deeper layers of the skin. This thickened skin on the face results in drooping of the eyelids and what we call a “tragic” expression or tragic face. I’ve only seen it a handful of times in practice, but it’s a definite tip-off for hypothyroidism.
If you’re the owner of a senior dog, something that may be of particular interest to you is that several notorious neurologic disorders have been linked to hypothyroidism. These include hind-end weakness, laryngeal paralysis, and vestibular disease.
If your dog has been diagnosed with one of these conditions, I’m not saying he’s also hypothyroid, but it’s definitely worth ruling out with bloodwork. Unfortunately, even if he is hypothyroid, treatment won’t necessarily resolve the concurrent neurologic disorder.
Canine hypothyroidism: Two real-life stories
Before wrapping up, let’s look at some real-life stories that put into action all we’ve talked about so far.
Jake’s story: A Golden Retriever’s hypothyroid diagnosis
Jake is a seven-year-old Golden Retriever. When he came in for his first appointment, he was overweight, had a dry coat, and hair loss along his sides and tail. Of course, I raised my eyebrows when his owner reported he was always battling ear infections. I immediately suspected hypothyroidism in dogs based on the total package of his age, breed, and clinical symptoms.
A full thyroid panel confirmed the diagnosis, and Jake started on thyroid supplements twice a day. He started to lose weight within a few weeks, and his family was thrilled to report his renewed energy. It took a few more months, but his hair coat slowly improved, and ear infections became less frequent.
Samuel’s story: A Husky dog’s hypothyroid symptoms
Samuel is not as straightforward as Jake. Samuel is a nine-year-old Siberian Husky. He had been gaining weight over the past three years, but it was written off as decreased activity and too many treats. But then he started to develop frequent hot spots along his back that never completely cleared up.
He started acting strange, sometimes seemingly unaware of what was going on and having urinary accidents in the house. Initial blood tests were normal as was his complete blood count. His in-house thyroid level was low normal. We suspected that was due to euthyroid sickness.
Samuel’s symptoms only progressed with more lethargy, skin problems, and continued weight gain despite a strict diet. When blood tests were repeated a few months later, his in-house TT4 level was still in the normal range but had decreased. We decided to send a full thyroid panel to a reference lab.
Results came back—a low normal TT4, low free T4, and high TSH—a classic panel for true hypothyroidism. I made the diagnosis and Samuel started treatment. It took a few months, but I’m happy to share Samuel began to thrive once again.
Talk with your vet and take comfort
If after reading this article you suspect your dog may—or may not—have true canine hypothyroidism, schedule an appointment with your vet as soon as you can.
Armed with knowledge and a deep desire to help your dog feel his very best, I’m confident you’re just a few short weeks away from knowing whether hypothyroidism is his underlying condition or if another common cause of low T4 plagues your beloved companion.
Either way, take comfort in the fact that you’re doing everything you can to help your dog live the healthiest life possible.
Does your dog have a hypothyroidism diagnosis?
What symptoms tipped you off to the problem? Share in the comments below. We’d love to hear your dog’s story.
What a great article with helpful info!
My 5 year old German Shepherd had always had skin issues (dandruff, dull coat), we tried supplementing with salmon and oils at breakfast. He seemed to be gaining weight so we cut the treats in half and managed to lose 10 pounds. Back to the vet since he seemed to tire easily and he had a bald spot on his tail. Turns out he is extremely low and was put on 2 times a day meds. Hoping his coat and energy improve. He seems more hungry since we started but his energy does seem better.
Hi Karen,
Thanks for the positive feedback about the article. I’m so glad you were able to get a diagnosis for your Shepherd and start treatment to help turn things around. Hoping for continued success and wishing your sweet girl all the best!
Hello, my name is jenny and I have a almost six year old golden retriever.Named pearl
A few years ago, she was showing hind end weakness, lethargy, which was chalked up to just being a lazy dog. Many times over and she seemed to be gaining. WeightAlthough I don’t overfeed her not a lot, but she definitely was gaining.Weight, the tip-off was her coat on the sides. Her tail and in particular, her nose hair was looking sparse and missing. The last straw was I noticed for a year or so the skin on her belly. In other areas looked dark instead of pink!! It seemed like nobody paid attention to any of these symptoms other than me! she went in for yearly blood test and usually the T4 came back fine. Although the last one a little lower, nobody again mentioned anything..
Finally, I had to take her in for some x.Rays because i wanted to know what was going on with her backend incidentally, they found nothing, but that’s when the kicker they found out she had a very low thyroid and put her on medication!! you think they would have caught this before?Because I come in for a yearly wellness visit, but they didn’t. With that, they put her on medication and within 8 weeks, she lost 10 pounds. Her energy level ramped up tremendously, you could see her fur growing back, and her skin slowly turned pink again, and she grew hair back on her nose and sides!! the only thing really, she’s having issues with now is she does not come in heat normally, she is UN. Altered, and it’s been 18 months since her last heat, which is nothing unusual for her. However, I thought maybe it’d be thyroid related, and once she was on meds, it would regulate, but it has not I still can’t figure that one out!! no other concerns otherwise everything is great! she does tend to drink a lot but besides that, everything else is top-notch. Wish I could figure out the reason she doesn’t come in. Heat on a regular basis, but since I’m not breeding her and I’m a responsible owner, and it is recommended not to fix golden retriever. Females, through much research, which I’ll be glad to share if you’d like it. She does fine!!
Hi Jenny,
I am so glad Pearl is feeling great and back living her best life! What a blessing you finally obtained a diagnosis, and the treatment helped so quickly. I am not sure why her cycles have been disrupted, other than this could be a normal age-related change that coincidentally happened at the same time as her thyroid treatment. As long as she is feeling well and there are no signs of a uterine infection, I would not worry about the cycle changes. Thank you for sharing your experience with us! Wishing you both many happy years ahead and keep up the great work!
GOOD MORNING Dr. BUSBY!
we have a pair of Bluetick hounds, Elwood and Jake Blues, and they are almost 7 years old.
a month ago, Elwood (who is 115 lbs. without overfeeding) started having siezures. We took him 3 times to the veterinary hospital we’ve been going to for several years now and Dr.K pinned it down to possible Thyroid problems and sent blood samples away for clinical testing as ultrasounds, xrays and a MRI did not show anything abnormal. tests came back and hypothyroidism was the diagnosis. Elwood is now 3 weeks into his Thyroid medicine and is doing well. I cannot stress enough how precise we have to be on his taking his medicine on time. I was 3 hours late one day and he has a seizure that evening. Bad dog mommie! he is also heat/cold sensitive. Has anyone else reported these symptoms?
Hi Carol,
Goodness, you have been through a lot in the past couple months! I am sorry Elwood is living with thyroid disease but glad you have a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan. Yes, other readers (and my clients) have reported similar symptoms. It is crazy to think of all the things in the body that are affected by thyroid function! Hoping Elwood can maintain his quality of life and praying for continued success. Thank you for sharing your experience with us and keep up the good work. ♥
I noticed my 12 year old Catahoula Leopard dog named Zeus was having skin problems. Constant digging and scratching the skin, massive hair loss, including his tail, and darkening of the skin in the groin and leg area. We started with Apoquel and frequent baths thinking it was allergy related, Still no change! Then i noticed he did not want to take his walks and was pretty lethargic. In June 2024 Zeus had bloodwork drawn for a procedure and his T4 was on the low side of normal. But once the symptoms above got worse, i asked the Vet to test him for hypothyroidism. You see I also suffer from hypothyroidism and had to fight to get treatment, and now Zeus was exhibiting the same symptoms, and I was prepared to fight to get him treated! Zeus was tested earlier this week. His T4 level (and Free T4, which i requested they do) has decreased drastically. He started on Levothyroxine today (8/21/2024), and. I am praying I see a positive change. I miss our daily walks exploring..
Hi Cassandra,
I am sorry Zeus is facing this difficult disease. He is a lucky boy to have you advocating so strongly for his health and well-being. I hope you will start to see an improvement now that he is taking the levothyroxine. Wishing you both all the best and praying for many happy days ahead.
We adopted an approx 5 yr old white boxer 1st part of April and being a typical boxer, loves people, especially children, exuberant, a cuddles and always with a wiggle butt.. I feed him and my husband walks him. Nothing has changed in his routine, eats and drinks well, walks 2 miles per day, and does not seem to be in any discomfort except for some bumps on his front paw we are keeping under with Vetricide and a single Benadryl 25 mg every other day. The other day when I stood up he gave a warning nip to my face, after trying to show dominance by an unwavering stare for several minutes. Both behaviors are very out of character. I can’t help but be somewhat aloof from him as I was quite startled by this reaction. Since then he continues to stare at me and is on alert once he hears my voice. No such behavior towards my husband, but is not obsessed at coming between us. Could this be hypothyroid? I have a friend who runs a very well known rescue in Southern California and she suggested I have a vet look at that? I am not seeing unusually odd or aggressive behavior as a symptom, what are your thoughts?
Hi Sandie,
I am sorry you are facing this very difficult situation with your Boxer. While hyperthyroidism could be contributing to this issue, I would want to rule out other more serious conditions as well. Without examining your boy myself, it is hard to make specific conclusions. Also, please make sure you are not putting yourself or others at risk. Even if there is a medical cause for this new aggression, you have to make sure you are safe. Hoping for answers and a clear path forward. Wishing you all the best as you navigate this hard path.
My dog went for her annual check up and mini blood work. Vet said her red blood count was low and she was anemic. . Then he wanted urine check and xrays. Urine test was fine and he decided not to do exrays Said she has a tyroid problem. No t-cell check was done though. He wants my dog to start on thyroid meds.
My dog is a silky yorkie, 14 years old and 10lbs. She has lost weight in the past couple yrs. she had gotten up to 12 lbs a few hrs ago.. Her coat is thick and shiny, she eats very well. Has very regular bathroom habits and never had any health issues before. I don’t know what to do. I’m not trusting my vet at this point.
Wilh no t-cell check why would he put her on thyroid meds?
Hi Gail,
I understand your concern for your little pup. Unfortunately, without playing a personal role in her medical care it is hard for me to make assumptions about the choices that have been made. It is possible a thyroid level was included in the original lab work (and not sent out individually) as it is commonly found on most senior blood work panels. I would encourage you to have an honest conversation with your vet and make sure they are aware of your concerns and questions. It is likely this confusion is due to a lack of communication. Of course, you are always able to seek a second opinion if needed. You deserve to feel comfortable and confident with the care your girl receives. Hoping you can get the answers you need to take away any doubt and hesitation when it comes to starting treatment. Wishing you and your sweet girl all the best.
Thank you for this extremely thorough article! My 4.5 year old basenji has struggled with dietary sensitivities all his life and takes Budesonide daily to reduce his IBD symptoms – with this medication we’ve been able to generally avoid the chronic vomiting, diarrhea and lack of appetite that he demonstrated despite being on a Hydrolized Protein diet. Due to his skin sensitivities, hair loss and lethargy the breeder recommended I order Emilio a full thyroid panel, since Basenjis are prone to develop hypothyroidism. The panel diagnosed a very high TSH (.69) and normal Free T4. Emilio was then put on 2 daily doses of .2mg of Thyroxine. A follow up blood test confirmed normal TSH ranges after treatment. It has been exactly a year since we began treatment – Emilio’s skin condition has not improved, he gorges himself with water and I am noticing some noticeably more rapid breathing than before. It is very hot out right now, and I often have to carry Emilio home after walking him a block to relieve himself. Aside from the thyroid panel results, none of the symptoms I’d hoped to address with the treatment have had any noticeable change. In the meantime I’ve found that applying olive oil topically to his skin has dramatically improved his coat. With this in mind, aside from a check-up thyroid panel (which is overdue regardless, since he started treatment a year ago), what other options may I want to consider? May a reduced dosage of Thyroxine be of use? Should I consider a trial period of no dosage whatsoever? Thank you in advance for any feedback.
Hi Matteo,
I understand your concern for your pup and think he is very lucky to have you advocating for his health and well-being. It can be very difficult to manage symptoms when dealing with more than one condition at a time. You are doing a great job! Without playing a personal role in your boy’s medical care, it is hard to make specific recommendations. I would be hesitant to alter the thyroxine dosage especially since his lab work showed favorable results. With the skin problems, excessive drinking, and panting, I am a bit suspicious these could be side effects from the budesonide. These are all common side effects of steroids. I think it would be good to talk to your vet and see if this needs further investigation. Hoping you can get the answers you need to get your pup back on track. Praying for clarity and wishing you all the best.
My Maltese is seven and over the past eight months we’ve noticed a change in him. He’s become lethargic, thinning coat down his back and thinning tail, weight gain but eats a healthy diet, fearful, nervous and can no longer jump onto the sofa. He hates going for walks and refuses to mix with other dogs. I took him to the vet and a blood test was done, result of low thyroid but a second test had to be done to confirm hypothyroidism which came back negative. Now for reasons beyond my control I had to change vet who’s spoken with another vet and concluded that it could be Cushings ! The problem is this, yes he’s got all the symptoms of Cushings bar the important one which is drinking excess water, my dog drinks very little water The vet monitored this and still a Cushings test was scheduled for today but upon reading more about hypothyroidism in dogs I decided to request a repeat test instead of the Cushings and he agreed.. A total T4 panel was done yesterday. . I should get the result of that in the next few days. Regarding Cushings in dogs is it possibly he could have that even though he drinks very little water. Thanks in advance.
Dear Marilyn,
I am sorry you are left with more questions than answers despite all the testing your pup has been through. Unfortunately, these diseases can be tricky to diagnose and it’s very important to get things right before administering medication. I hope you have received the results from the Cushing’s test and thyroid panel and have found a clear path forward with treatment. Feel free to leave an update and let us know how things are going. Wishing you all the best and praying for a positive outcome.
Here is a link to an article all about Cushing’s disease that may offer additional information: Cushing’s Disease in Dogs: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Medications
I noticed my dog (golden, male, 8 years) has a darker patch above his nose. When comparing with a photo dating November, it’s very clear.
Now I posted this photo in our Golden FB group and two people suggested he might have hypothyroidism.
Now I can assure you he has no other symptoms mentioned in the many articles.
Do I need to have him tested, or wait and see?
What else could it be?
Hi Christina,
I understand your concern for your Golden with this change in pigment on his muzzle. While thyroid issues can cause changes to the skin pigment, so can several other disease processes. I do think it would be wise to have your vet take a look at him. I encourage my clients to have lab work checked yearly even if there are no signs of illness. This is a great way to monitor trends and catch issues very early so we can intervene before there are negative effects for their dog. Most senior wellness panels include a thyroid level. I recommend you talk to your vet and see which tests they think would offer the most benefit for your boy. Hoping all is well and wising you both the best of luck.
My dog (7 yo Great Dane) was recently diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. I originally took him in to look at a lump under his front leg. A couple weeks later I took him back because his eyes were more red than usual and both his lower and upper third eyelids were showing. She did some blood work and prescribed some eye drops. She called with the results and then gave the diagnosis of Hypothyroidism and prescribed medication. I came across this article and now I’m second guessing. My dog did put on quit a bit of weight, seemingly quickly. He has no hair loss, dark patches of skin nor any ear issues. He simply is not the same dog. He’s only been on the 8mg thyro-tabs for just over a week now but no change yet. He sleeps all day…most days about 20hrs, only waking to eat, drink and go the bathroom. He shows no interest in playing or even wagging his tail. It’s so sad. I took him to the river, his favorite place, but not even one tail wag.
Dear Susan,
I understand your concern for your Dane with these worrisome symptoms he is exhibiting. I am a bit surprised you haven’t noticed any improvement since starting the thyroid medication. It does make me suspicious that something else could be contributing to these issues. Without examining your boy myself, it is hard to make specific conclusions. It may be a good idea to do more in-depth testing or even talk to your vet about a referral to a specialist. Hoping you can find the answers you need to restore his health and quality of life. Wishing you both the best and praying for a positive outcome.
Hello! This post is so helpful so I want to thank you first and foremost for taking the time to help us pet parents understand our pets’ ailments.
Recently I took my 3 year old German shepherd mix, Winnie, to the vet for what I thought was allergies. She had flaky spots on her skin, red bumps, and a hot spot. I’d also noticed that some areas of her fur were dull and not as dense as before.
We got allergy treatment but my vet recommended bloodwork. Her thyroid levels came back a bit low. My vet suspected euthyroid sickness and suggested I wait but I asked for a thyroid panel and got the news today that she has hypothyroidism.
I’m happy I was able to figure out what was causing her skin problems and this article has helped me in knowing what to ask my vet. Winnie will be starting the medication tonight and will be getting a thyroid recheck in 4 weeks.
Thank you for all you do. Please know that your work is very appreciated. 🩵
Hi Gabriela,
Thank you for the kind words and positive feedback! I am sorry Winnie has received this difficult diagnosis but feel confident you will be able to navigate this new path and ensure your girl remains happy and healthy. Winnie is lucky to have you advocating for her health and well-being. Wishing you both the best of luck as she starts her thyroid medication. Keep up the good work!
i first inherited Coco 3 years ago from my sister that passed, my sister was having problems with her peeing at night on her rugs. when i watched her at the beginning she was peeing dark (i took her out alot cause i wondered if problem was my sister living in an apartment), so i took her to my vet found bladder stones, had them removed and she was great!
my sister said she always had problems with her ears also. i think i fixed that by keeping her ears clear of hair! then we started noticing a mild seizure type once in awhile. both my vet and her old vet did blood work said she was fine and if they were mild and not often to wait and see when they get worse to put her on meds then! well they started getting worse but not often. had to take her to new vet because both of the others left town. so new vet did blood work and said thyroid was low (she did start gaining weight, not as active, face changed,hair on tail thinning, couldn’t jump on couch very well by this visit) she has now been on thyroid for 3 months and what a different dog! happy, energetic, gets up early every day, hair growing back on tail, face is normal. what i’m wondering is: could the peeing problem with bladder stones, ear infections, then seizures starting, could this possibly by symptoms of her low thyroid problem? my vet said possibly but not likely!
they also gave me a script for that at same time 3 months ago and said if i wanted to try it for seizures LevETRAcetam 750MG suppose to be a qrt tab every 8 hours. i did start her on it but only qrt tab every 12 hours. no sezures since but i maybe shouldn’t have started until she was on the thyroid for awhile, maybe she doesn’t need that anymore but im afraid to take her off it! what do you think, have you ever experienced lo thyroid causing seizures?
Hi Rene’,
Thank you for taking the time to share Coco’s story with us. She is a very lucky girl to have you taking such good care of her and advocating for her health and well-being. I agree with your vet that the previous issues with bladder stones and ear infections were probably not related to this new thyroid dysfunction, but I can’t say it isn’t possible. I don’t think there is anything wrong with starting the seizure medication and the thyroid supplement at the same time. Levetiracetam (Keppra) is very safe and does not have as many side effects as some of the other anticonvulsant medications commonly used in veterinary medicine. With that being said, Keppra has a very short half life, meaning it is cleared from the blood stream quickly (usually in 4-6 hours). So, if you are only giving it every 12 hours, then there is a 6-hour window where your pup has no medication on board before you are giving the next dose. My advice would be to either give it as directed or consider talking to your vet about discontinuing it all together. Hoping this helps offer some guidance as you navigate this new path. Wishing you all the best and give Coco a hug for me!
Hi Thank you for sharing this information. Oddly, I have my first doberman with hypothyroidism in 25 years of owning and fostering them. I just started fostering for a human society and they asked me to take a surrendered and untreated doberman with the worst case of hypothyroidism that the vet has seen in her 30 years in practice. SHe said she has always known it can produce lameness but never seen it. Well this sweet girl could not walk or get up on her own. I asked them if she was mixed with Shar pei because he head and neck had rolls that are not characteristic of doberman… after research I found out about this tragic face. When I took her in as a medicsl foster for at least two months on, I honestly felt she was a hospice case. The vet felt she would make a full recovery. Her skin is snow scaly it looks like it snowing, and so many sores: raised bumps and bumps all over her stomach and legs. We also haven’t heard her bark. She slept most of the day but as miserable as she must have been, she was still the sweetest most gently dog. Almost like she spent what little energy she had gently licking me to say thank you for helping her.
Good news she is down 8 pounds, can get up and down and walk on her own now. She even has wiggles to let you know she is happy to see you. The vet and staff are amazed and the difference in the swelling around her neck/throat. She is now on an antibiotics 2x a day for 14 days to try to deal with some of the skin issues/itchiness.
My question that I can’t find an answer to is does the skin shrink back after all this swelling? I want to believe she will look normal again I just can’t imagine how this rolls around her head/eyes and kneck with go away. Do they 100% recover with walking or will she always be weak/quick to fall? I can’t imagine her being able to play bow, run and rough house with other dogs. Have you seen them make a full recovery like this?
Ironically, my own 5 year old doberman that I foster failed/adopted three years ago has hair/skin problem, weight /low energy issues and spay incontinence. When I first got her I asked them if she was mixed with a brindle breed because her hair color was so different. She also has two noticeable balding patches the side of my hand on both side of her spin over her rear legs. I thought this was a tell for thyroid issues but my vet said it can be hereditary and is not related. I asked for a full thyroid panel but my vet said it was overkill and suggested the T4 and Free T4 only. Both are just barely in the normal range. I have a second opinion scheduled in January with a vet who will do a full panel sent to MSU.
Thank you again for sharing your knowledge.
Hi Cheryl,
You are such a blessing! Thank you for being willing to take in these pitiful pups that are desperately in need of love and care. I am not sure I have ever seen a dog with such severe hypothyroid symptoms as your medical foster. I would think you will probably see an improvement in her appearance as the treatment is continued long term but seriously doubt there will be a complete resolution. Then again, only time will tell! I have often been surprised at how well these babies can heal when in the right environment. ♥ As for your own Doberman, I think the second opinion is a good idea. Not that I necessarily think your vet is wrong, but these internal medicine cases can be challenging, and it never hurts to get an expert opinion and find out all the options. Also, from what you describe, I am suspicious your girl is dealing with seasonal flank alopecia. Even though it has “seasonal” in the name I have often seen it year-round in some of my patients. Here is a link to another article with more information: Can I Give My Dog Melatonin? Hope for Hair Loss and More
Hoping the appointment at MSU will give you the answers you need to ensure your girl remains happy and healthy. Wishing you and all your pups the best. Keep up the good work!
My Newfoundland x Labernese was recently diagnosed. As per your article, her T4 and fT4 were low and her TSH was high along with clinical signs of weight gain, lethargy and dry, flaked skin.
Looking back, it was a very gradual change over a months, starting with weight gain. we blamed it on treats and spaying but she still wasn’t losing weight despite dietary changes. Then the lethargy which we thought was “maturing” became more pronounced and abnormal for a 3.5 yr old dog, she also started looking “sad” or depressed. Then her beautiful coat became dull and dandruffy with scaling spots along her spine and tail. Her undercoat disappeared 😢.
Five months into her weight loss program, she had gained over 10 lbs!!! I made an appointment because it had become obvious there was more going on.
She has been on medication for about a week and we have a follow-up later this week as her appetite has severely decreased.
Other than that, we have our “old” dog back. She is playing again, has picked up her pace on walks and looks much brighter.
Her skin is still dry but I am hopeful that will change. (She was on Omega 3 oil but Nutritionist had me cut it out of her diet, she is now back on it which I am hoping will help her skin issues as well).
Hi Joanne,
This is such a great success story! Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I hope you receive good news at the recheck later this week. Give your sweet girl a hug for me and keep up the good work! ♥
Good morning!
I can’t tell you how glad I am that I found this blog. Last week we rescued (we’re fosters) what we think is a pug/ chihuahua mix. She is extremely overweight and is missing hair on her back. Her cholesterol is high and her thyroid levels are low. Seems like a classic case and the vet agreed. We started her meds last week. Of course we don’t know much about her background but here is what I am thinking happened. I think she probably spent most of her life in a crate and because of her frequent urination, she got way too comfortable just laying in her own urine. I forgot to mention! She has bladder stones. So we are going to let this medication take its course, and get her weight down and her overall health up. She goes back to the vet to check her thyroid levels in 3 weeks and then considered for surgery for the bladder stones in a month.
My question is related to any tips you might have for house training a dog like this. I mentioned earlier, she urinates very frequently. Right now, we have her confined to our kitchen and we have pee pads everywhere. She uses them most of the time. Our goal right now, is just to try and teach her that when she pees somewhere, not to stay and lay on it. That is going well and we are making progress. She is so overweight she currently cannot walk very far. There is one step to get in and outside and she cant even get down or up it… yet! Once she loses some weight and gets better with mobility we will work on trying to get her in and out of the house and reward her when she goes outside. Treats are probably not the greatest idea but we’ve heard green beans are a nice healthy snack.
Does this sound like a good plan? Any other ideas? She is as sweet as can be. We’re looking forward to the day she can get on and off that step!!
Thanks!
Liz
Hi Liz,
I am sorry your pup is struggling with so many issues at once. She is a very lucky girl to have found you when she did. Thank you for being willing to share your home with her and for advocating for her health and well-being. ♥ From what you described it sounds like you are already doing everything you can to help encourage her to potty in the appropriate places. Green beans are a great low-calorie snack, and they can also be offered frozen for a crunchy treat. If extra treats are needed to help with the potty training, then just make sure to scale back the calories she is offered with her dog food to compensate. I am hoping that since she now has access to a comfortable place to sleep and rest, she will begin to prefer not to sit in her own urine and will seek out the pee pads when needed. It will be a great day when your vet can finally perform surgery to remove the bladder stones. I think this in itself will be the biggest help in getting the urination issues under control. You are doing a great job! Thank you for sharing your story with us. Feel free to leave an update when you have a chance and keep up the good work!
Buddy is my dog’s name. He is a 5 3/4 – yr old Great Dane. He has had skin sores on and off for his entire adult life. We were told he has skin allergies and have been giving him various skin prescriptions for bathing him. 2 months ago, Buddy developed lethargy , weight gain despite no food changes, occasional diarrhea, and increased urine output. Tests were done at the vet, stating that his thyroid level was “ extremely low”. He was put on 2 tabs thyroxine , twice daily. After the first 2 days of this dosage, he became anxious, and was panting at times. He also had loss of appetite and only wanted water. The vet was contacted and I was told not to give any thyroxine for 36 hours, then resume thyroxine at a smaller dose of 1 tab twice a day. Since all of this, he has lost a few pounds and doesn’t look fat anymore, but he is lethargic and has also developed “ knuckling” in his right rear leg. His foot folds when he tries to walk, and he gets off balance, which adds to his anxiety . I have put a foot and ankle guard on his affected foot, and it helps him with his balance. What are your thoughts? Will the foot drag go away? Will he improve? He seems to be lethargic, naps a lot, has no energy, and seems scared to enjoy the outside now as well . I’m sure you can easily imagine how sad this is to us; please let me know if there is anything else we should or could be doing. I speak softly to him and help him to walk and lay down, and that seems comforting to him.
Hi Janet,
I am sorry Buddy is dealing with so many issues at once and I understand why you are concerned for him. Without examining him myself, it is hard to make specific conclusions and recommendations. I am not sure if this right rear limb weakness can be attributed to the hypothyroidism or if it is a completely unrelated neurological issue. What does your vet think about it? You can always ask for a consultation with a specialist if needed. To get a definitive answer it may require more investigation. I hope you can find the information you need to ensure your big guy is getting the best care possible. Praying things will start to stabilize and he can get back to living his best life.
Our 12 yo black Lab was just diagnosed with hypothyroid. She has hind quarter weakness, weight gain, hair loss (especially her poor tail). She’s been on meds for two weeks and I am already seeing more energy and focus, but her constant panting is driving us crazy. We work in a tiny home office all day and she’s right there with us. Sometimes we put on noise cancelling headphones just to concentrate. Does this end with time?
Hi Dottie,
I understand how the constant panting could be driving you crazy. Unfortunately, this may not decrease with time. Please make sure your vet is aware of this ongoing issue as this could also be a symptom of other things such as laryngeal paralysis (common in Labs). I am glad the treatment seems to be working and your girl has gained back her energy. Hoping she has many happy years ahead. Wishing you all the best.
My 5 year old mini Labradoodle Ella was just diagnosed with hypothyroidism yesterday. We took her to our vet because of hair loss on hind legs. Her tummy looked a little dark too. She has been a little over weight for a few years. She is very active and has a good appetite. She does drink a lot of water everyday. She had loose bowel movements and her stool was tested for parasites and it came back normal. The only thing she has had problems with over the last couple of years is UTI’s. Any feedback from you would be appreciated.
Hi Jessica,
I am sorry your pup has received this difficult diagnosis. It sounds like your vet was able to get the answers needed to proceed with treatment. Is there something specific you are wanting advice about? Hoping Ella is on the road to recovery and wishing you both many happy years ahead.
Any advice, suggestions would be much appreciated. I have a gorgeous, 7 yo miniature Aussie, female and her name is Tula. I got her from a breeder because he needed to find her and her brother homes while he moved out of state. Seemed truly reputable, etc. When I got her she fit in my small hands and could outrun the best runners! She had energy, spunk, stamina, could catch a ball like no dog I’ve seen before truly! She’s expressive or verbal and has always had sass with class. That’s my girl, but at the time my vet was adamant that I had to spay her at 6 months old so I followed his recommendations. Within weeks of the surgery and after healing her behavior went from energetic to frantic, nervous to neurotic and it got so bad I mentioned it to her vet with really no response other than I must not be exercising her properly which I addressed with no success. Months later she gained some weight and looked good but then gained more and now years later she’s so obese it kills me. She’s seven and just got the diagnosis, that’s after years of requesting aid and being told somehow someway it was my fault and that I fed my dog too much when in reality I tend to under feed out of desperation to control her weight. Especially in the last couple years she gets enough but no extras and I’ve continued to carefully adjust it. I feed her raw, she loves it and it’s helped in her diarrhea she’s always had. At the start which would be 3 years ago roughly, she lost weight for a couple weeks on raw and then gained it immediately back and more. And it continues. Around the time I switched to raw I left that vet totally defeated and feeling like the lowest owner because at the same time she was gaining weight my rescue, Standard Aussie Granger had developed horrific lesions or bloody, oozy scabs on his nose. This was right after Covid hit, long story short a biopsy on his nose was inconclusive for discoid lupus but the vet treated him for it with steroids and unfortunately he later passed. Prior to his passing the lack of care caused me to switch vets. My current vet did his best but the disease overtook my boy and this led to me being much more vocal about Tula’s care. She’s just about 1 month on Levothyroxine 5mg once daily. The first day she received her dose she seemed to get her energy back and wanted to play more than normal. Then she mellowed some that first week with bursts of energy so I’ve been hopeful and a week or so ago she actually chased her brother which she hasn’t done in a long while but the last few days she seems to be slow, her hind legs become lame and she buckles to the floor or can’t lift herself up the steps. In fact she’ll be walking and suddenly drop which she’s shown signs for a couple years of weakness but suddenly it’s worse than I’ve ever seen. She even seems confused about it. Obviously she’s displayed behavioral changes early on or since she was spayed at 6 months old, weight gain followed and won’t stop no matter exercise and diet, she does seem slightly more aggressive, her hair has become dry with minor dandruff that is recent as in the last year or so but I haven’t noticed losing hair except for normal shedding. She also seems to have heartburn at times usually at night she’ll lift her head into the air and lick like something is bothering her. She’s depressed, sleepy, lazy, not motivated except for food. I’m just wondering is it too soon to expect more improvement even though I thought I saw improvement initially, her hind leg weakness and lameness freaks me out which again is in the last few days I’ve noticed it worsening and no weight loss that I can visibly see in fact I’m worried she gained more but it’s only been a month. Of course I’m calling her vet tomorrow for a check up and another prescription of Levothyroxine but I’m wondering if 5mg once daily is enough she’s 47 Lbs although it scares me to overdose her or cause seizures or heart problems
Hi Erin,
I can understand your concerns with Tula’s health and applaud your dedication to finding answers for her. Withing being able to examine her myself and look at her bloodwork, I’m unable to give you any specific recommendations. Hopefully the check up with your vet was helpful and she is doing better now. If you find that Tula continues to struggle with these symptoms, you could also consider consulting with an internal medicine specialist for a fresh set of eyes. I hope you are able to find some answers for your dear girl soon so that she can get back to her old self!
We have had our 11-yo Chow mix girl for 9 years now. At her visit to the vet yesterday, the staff commented on how happy and healthy she seemed, especially for her age. Today, the vet called to say the lab work looked good except for low thyroid levels. I was expecting this, because we get pretty much the same call each year. Our dog doesn’t have problems with her weight, and her energy levels, her coat and appetite are good.
Are there some dogs or dog breeds that routinely ‘fail’ thyroid panels, but don’t actually have a problem with their thyroids? As in, their thyroid levels are naturally low?
Hi Vee,
I suppose it is possible for a dog to have a slightly low thyroid and it be their “normal”. Also, if the thyroid is just barely out of the normal range it may not be enough to cause symptoms. I think you are doing the right thing with yearly monitoring. Glad your girl is feeling well and living her best life. Keep up the good work!
I have a 3.5 yo cockalier. She has multiple food intolerances, is on allergy serum for dermatitis, and along with her sister has mild esophageal paralysis. Over a two month period we noticed inability to jump over the side of a chair, then difficulty jumping onto the front of the sofa. She had some flaky skin but I attributed that to spring allergies. Then she gained 3 pounds in 6 weeks. I went in thinking hip dysplasia. He ran the labs, low T4, anemia and sky high cholesterol. The free T4 came back as severely hypothyroid. All labs were normal 6 months earlier. Started on med. Her energy has improved, she’s jumping, may have lost a little weight. Sadly, even though she appears to be responding, the hair loss caught up with her. She had a freckle on her nose, all hair on nose is gone. She has significant body wide hair loss, no other bald spots. Yet. And she has developed tragic face syndrome. We go in two days for the one month repeat labs. Moral of this story, stay away from breeders, even one who has been in business for 40 years. Rescue! The sad part is I do dearly love cockers.
Dear Donna,
I am sorry your young dog is dealing with the effects of hypothyroidism. I am glad you picked up on the symptoms and were able to get a diagnosis quickly. What a blessing your pup is responding to the treatment and is feeling better. How did the recheck go? Hoping you received good news and with continued treatment some of the lingering issues will start to resolve. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. Wishing you both the best!
My 2 year old healthy 5 pound Pomeranian who has always had a beautiful coat (champion bloodline, line has no thyroid issues, he has been genetically tested as a pup and and had no issues detected) was diagnosed hypothyroid from routine blood work that was being done for a suspected skin infection after he had a terrible stay at a boarding kennel for a week and he was abused. (Maggot infestation due to them not cleaning poop off of him for a week) he was treated at EVet right after picking him up from kennel and seeing his condition, skin ended up getting infected after a few days after maggot removal. His blood work confirmed that he did have an infection but his t4 value was really low too so just put him on thyroid medicine. Was rechecked in a month after medicating and was in normal ranges. So he never had clinical symptoms and was diagnosed right after his terrible incident at kennel which I can only imagine the stress his poor body was under fighting off an infection from. fast forward to 7 months later and a different vet was cleaning his teeth and had mentioned to me he may have been misdiagnosed because he is so young and never had clinical symptoms or additional testing and I may want to look into it. Anyways so a vet said I can stop medicine for 6 week and get him retested to confirm or reverse diagnosis. The more research I did I think he may of just have euthyroid sickness because of his traumatic boarding experience plus the medicine he was given for that could have affected his t4 level that day. He has been off of medicine for a few days now and has had no change in behavior or energy. I am continuing to monitor him for these 6 weeks till I can get him retested. This article was informational to me to learn more about this condition.
Hi Mady,
I am sorry your sweet boy has endured so much over the last year. I am glad you are investigating this further and am hopeful you will get some good news in a few weeks. Your pup is lucky to have you advocating for his health and well-being. Thank you for sharing your experience with our readers. Please keep us updated and let us know what you find out!
My Alexander is 5 years old this week and is a Goldie Pyr and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at almost 2 years old. I had the more advanced testing done. His only significant sign was the weight gain. He has a great coat, eats well, no behavior changes, no ear infections. Vet believes he likely inherited the problem from one of his parents. Now he seems to be gaining weight and his meds are sometimes low and sometimes high. We simply can’t get ahold of it. He gets his blood work done all the time and is on Thyroxine and prescription metabolic dog food. Can a dog simply stop responding to Thyroxine? I am so perplexed!
Hi Ara,
I am sorry you are having so much difficulty regulating Alexander’s medications. I know you mentioned that he is having lab work performed frequently, but it makes me suspicious that there is something else going on that could be complicating things. It might be a good idea to schedule a consult with an internal medicine specialist. They have a great deal of experience handling complicated cases, like your pup seems to be. I hope you can find some answers and get your sweet boy’s thyroid issues under control. Wishing you the best of luck.
My 13 year old Aussie has recently been diagnosed with Cushing’s. She was diagnosed with hypothyroid at the same. She doesn’t have any of the signs of hypothyroid except a somewhat thin coat on top, hind end weakness (also has arthritis in her hind legs) and had one recent attack of vestibular disease. The Cushing’s signs are the opposite of hypothyroid so she has a good appetite, not fat, drinks a lot, incontinent mainly because of drinking so much, pants 24/7, sensitive to heat and Aussies are naturally somewhat hyper anyway. We are going to try lignans and melatonin vs. the chemicals. After reading the thoughts of another vet on line and you, I am wondering if she has euthyroid because of the Cushing’s? She was started on .2 mg. Soloxine 2 days ago. If the lignans and melatonin are effective her thyroid should kick in again. I don’t want to be giving her the Soloxine if she doesn’t need it. What kind of lab values might indicate the thyroid is working on it’s own? I don’t want her to have an overactive thyroid and Cushing’s symptoms also. I am getting her blood tested for the thyroid medication adjustment in 2 weeks but if the lignans and melatonin are going to work it could take several months for the Cushing’s symptoms to slow. I am wondering if the Soloxine will inhibit the pituitary stimulation down the line so I can’t determine what’s real. Thanks
Hi Michele,
I understand your concern for your Aussie and these new diagnoses she has received. Anytime you are dealing with multiple concurrent diseases, it makes the case very complicated. Since I haven’t examined your dog myself, I can’t make specific conclusions or recommendations. My best advice would be to schedule a consult with a veterinary internal medicine specialist. They have lots of experience with complicated cases like your girl seems to be. They can let you know if additional testing is needed and answer any lingering questions you may have. I hope you can find the information you need to make the best decision for you and your senior girl. Praying she will stabilize quickly and be able to continue living her best life.
I have a golden who is 12 1/2 years old. He was diagnosed with hypothyroidism a few years ago on a senior blood panel. In hindsight he had a few symptoms, a little bit of weight gain, ear infections, but he’s allergic to everything so those are common with him.. But overall, he never really had any significant symptoms.
I just adopted a female golden, her name is Goldie.. She is approximately 5 to 6 years old and had been used for years by a backyard breeder. When I got her, I could tell right away that she had been bred over and over again. Her tummy was just hanging down and it look like it had not been too long since she had nursed a litter of pups.. She was very overweight, 110 pounds, she had dark pigmented areas on her skin. She seemed depressed and shut down and was very tired. . She had thinning fur, dry coat, flaky skin, and no hair at all on her tail! She had this pitiful looking little Eyeore tail. When I first saw her, I couldn’t help but tear up at the condition that she was in. I had never seen a golden retriever that did not have that beautiful lush hair and tail and that didn’t have that golden “smile” and zest for life.
She didn’t know how to get in and out of a car, she didn’t know how to walk on floors, or go up and down steps, she didn’t know what toys were, Her hair was very long and you could tell that she had never been groomed and that these owners had just chopped her hair when it became matted. These last things, of course had nothing to do with her having hypothyroid , but it was just very sad to think of the life she had lead: When I took her for walks, she walked so slowly, and she would be way behind me, and I was walking slow. She was also a little cranky and would growl at my other 2 dogs if they invaded her space. Because of the lack of care she had received from her previous owners, the vet who initially saw her before I got her, thought her condition was related to poor nutrition. I took her to a different vet within the first couple of days of getting her. Right away that vet said, “I think her symptoms are hormonal. I think she has hypothyroid”. . She drew the lab and within a couple of days, she called me and said that she did indeed have hypothyroid and we started her on medication immediately. Within a week, it was like she woke up from her thyroid depression. She seemed happy, had a lot more energy, was playful and no longer cranky or growling at my other dogs. She had that golden smile and zest for life. She’s been on medication for about 2 months now. Her level came up to normal. I’m starting to see a little bit of hair come back on her tail. She’s lost 15 pounds. She no longer walks behind me, I have to walk very fast to keep up with her! The difference in her is amazing. She still has issues from being a neglected dog, but having her thyroid levels where they should be, has made a huge difference in the quality of her life. I thanked her vet so much for immediately knowing what the problem was. I have no idea how long this girl had hypothyroid, but I know she felt terrible. She is one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever seen. Despite her lack of care and love from her previous owners, this girl loves and craves human touch. She is a blessing.
Thank you for this article. I think that it will be so helpful to others in the future. Luckily I had taken Goldie to a wonderful vet early on, but if I had not, it may have not been diagnosed for a long time. The first vet who saw her didn’t pick up on it. I certainly didn’t know that her symptoms were caused by hypothyroid, even though I had a dog that has hypothyroid. Reading the article, I see Goldie exactly how she was when I met her.
I look forward to all the years that she has left and trying to make up for the life she has had up to this point.
Hi Ann,
Thank you so much for sharing Goldie’s story with us! I hope it will be an encouragement to other readers that may be in a similar situation. I am so glad Goldie is thriving and happy. She is a lucky girl to have found you and have you as such a great advocate for her health and wellbeing. I wish you both many happy years ahead. ♥
Hello,
Question for you. We are running into an issue with our vet. Our Husky, 10 years old, is very similar to your other story. He’s developed hot spots over the years, put on weight when his eating has been amazing, clean veggies and food, itches a good amount and has developed fatty deposits under his skin. His weight is 93 lbs, TT4 is 14, FT4 is 4, and TSH is .22 but vet stated that Michigan State lab stated he was fine so they won’t prescribe anything to help him unless they can get someone to state something different. Unfortunately I’ve been through this same thing with human thyroid doctors, but I’m darn positive something is wrong and at least with the low values, “normal’ TSH, lethargy, weight gain, something is not right with the thyroid. So, wasn’t sure if you were able to offer some help, either by helping him over the phone and getting him on something OR having a conversation with our vet to be able to help them maybe understand a few things OR find a better endocrinologist? Do you have any thoughts on or help on this?
Dear Chris,
I understand your concerns. Over the course of my career, I have seen dogs prescribed thyroid medications “liberally” when maybe it wasn’t warranted. The thyroid is responsible for critical elements of metabolism, so I really admire your vets caution and prudence. I am sure their intent is to not treat something inappropriately and create a problem. Here’s how I would handle it…I would respectfully explain to your veterinarian that you are concerned and ask if they would be willing to repeat the labs because you are willing to pay for it and would like to dig deeper. There is a more extensive thyroid panel that will provide even more information. It can be run through any reputable lab, but here’s an example of what I’m talking about. I would recommend a panel that included Free T4 by ED and TgAA to be extra thorough:
These tests aren’t cheap, but it will be extremely comprehensive. Once you get results back, if you and your veterinarian are still not seeing eye to eye, I’d ask your veterinarian if they would be willing to call the lab on your behalf and explain your concerns. All major vet labs have specialists on staff (boarded internal medicine veterinarians) with whom vets can consult for a second opinion. Perhaps they will agree that a 4–6-week trial of thyroid medication would be warranted. Or not. But if you follow this path, I think you can rest assured you left no stone unturned.
My girl Roxy (Gsp/husky mix) is 2 years old and suspected hypothyroidism.
Her vet checked her blood (She was lethargic, gained 40 lbs in 10 months, not eating much and “scraping” the tip of her front toes). The results were low t3 and high t4. Vet was confused on why the t3 is low if the t4 is high so we did additional testing and we’re waiting for a response. Hopefully is “just” hypothyroidism and we can start treating it as soon as possible!
Question: will the medications stop also the paws dragging if that is one of the symptoms of hypothyroidism?
Also, I’d like to add that her cholesterol was 1000 on the results of the first wellness panel.
Hi Anna,
I am glad your vet is doing the additional testing for hypothyroidism. I hope you get conclusive results and can start Roxy’s treatment soon. Since I haven’t examined your dog myself, it is difficult to make specific conclusions. If the front limb weakness is due to hypothyroidism, then it should resolve with thyroxine supplementation just like other hypothyroid symptoms. Praying your girl will feel better quickly and get back to living her best life. Best wishes to you both!
My little Piggett, she’s 4 years old. She was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about a year ago. She began with rear leg weakness. We have had her on Thyroid medicine, but rear leg weakness seems to be worsening. Our vet gave muscle relaxers, but increases rear leg weakness. We have tried pain medicines seem to increases her rear leg weakness as well. Any suggestions?
Hi Jess,
I understand your concern for your sweet girl and the trouble she is having. Her case does sound a bit atypical and would have me scratching my head. It might be a good idea to get a referral to a veterinary internal medicine specialist as they have lots of experience with more complicated cases. I hope you can find a solution to get your girl back to living her best life. Best wishes to you both.
my cocker developed hypothyroidism about 3/4 years ago when I noticed he was putting weight on and more fatigued with bald patches appearing. He’s on meds now and the fur grew back within 6 weeks and his weight has come down. We had his bloods checked again recently as over the past few months while he’s excited and lively for walks within about 10 min he’s fatigued and plods along. It’s like 2 different dogs. Bloods were fine as showed his hypothyroidism was well controlled. He’s now 9 but shouldn’t be so fatigued as he is now and not in way he just goes downhill within a short period. X-rays have been taken too to rule out anything skeletal. I am seeing my vet tomorrow. I am going to throw him a curve ball as when I was looking up exercise intolerance in dogs the first thing that popped up was myasthenia gravis. If anything I will know tomorrow if am suggesting something to my vet that is way off the mark. It’s sad as am having to think of taking a stroller for him on walks which is wholly impractical with three other spaniels to walk too (one is 13 and not thinking of slowing down along with her 11 year old cousin). I hate it when they can’t fulfil their lives
Dear Penny,
I am sorry your boy is dealing with these worrisome symptoms and despite your vet’s best efforts, you have been left with more questions than answers. I think it is great you are searching for information. Your boy is lucky to have you advocating for his health and well-being. Don’t forget you can always ask for a referral to a specialist if needed. Hoping you can get a definitive diagnosis and move forward with the appropriate treatment. Wishing you all the best and feel free to leave an update as new information comes to light.
Hind leg weekness, wobbling, very dry eye, skin issues in patches and Mini seizure like events happened to my almost 16 year old Westie last year.
I tracked when this <2 minutes mini seizures happened. Cerenia was one which raised the red flag and so was benadryl (anticholine). Stopped both to avoid any major seizure events.
The symptoms are subtle – whining, urination/ defecation, ataxia and increase in panting /body temperature even in colder days..
I started my westie on MCT, Vetri DMG and Cholodin and use hydroxyzine in very small dose for his allergy versus benadry and gabapentin. Interestingly only his t4 is low normal and all other values are good with thyroid. I am planning to ask our acupuncture vet if she can help. I will be asking for thyroid test again this December. Our primary vet suggested we could try very low dose levo.
Hi Madeline,
I am sorry you are navigating such a difficult path with your Westie. It can be hard to know which decisions to make especially when he is having multiple issues. My best advice is to have an honest conversation with your vet and discuss all your concerns. There may be additional diagnostic tests that would help identify some of the problems. I hope you can find the answers you are looking for. Good luck to you and your senior boy.
GREAT and informative blog post! Thank you for caring about our animals enough to share all of this amazing info! I may not always reply, but I DO read them! Thank you, Dr. Buzby!!
Thanks so very much for your note, Brittany! I appreciate you and your encouraging words! ♥️