Is there no cure for thyroid (dogs)?

Question

Plz help.This is titu from India...My pet is suffering from Thyroid(as said by local doctors),from past 8months!! It is 7 year old pomerian(cross breed).. Its' body extremities are badly becoming sensitive and turning reddish, in such a way that, it cannot move. It became so weak from past one month! Firstly its four paws got badly infected, then the inner part of the both ears...then its lips.. we are using Ofloxacin 0.1% w/w,minoconazole Nitrate I.P 2.0% w/w,Clobetasol Propionate B.P 0.025% w/w, Base q.s lotion,which is a Anti Fungal,Anti Bacterial and Anti Inflammatory. This Lotion is temporarily curing the infected, but in the very next few days...another body extremity (may be ears, lips etc) are getting infected!! Local Doctors say that there is no cure for this!!

Is there NO CURE? if it cant be wiped off permanently, then, will it atleast be temporarily cured with better medicines than the one which i mentioned above?

What should i do now?? PLz doctors help me out!!

Answer 1

Hypothyroidism
Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.



Hypothyroidism is a common problem in dogs, but rarely occurs in cats. The thyroid gland has a number of different functions, but it is most well known for its role in regulating metabolism. Hypothyroidism is the condition that occurs when not enough thyroid hormone is produced. Hypothyroidism causes a wide variety of symptoms, but is often suspected in dogs that have trouble with weight gain or obesity and suffer from hair loss and skin problems. Hypothyroidism is easy to diagnose with a blood test that checks the level of various thyroid hormones including T3 and T4. Most hypothyroid dogs respond readily to treatment with synthetic thyroid medication such as Soloxine. Many dogs suffer from a low thyroid hormone level for years without treatment. If your dog has chronic recurrent skin problems, she may be suffering from hypothyroidism.
What causes hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism results from the impaired production and secretion of thyroid hormone. The production of thyroid hormone is influenced by the pituitary gland, the hypothalamus, and the thyroid gland. Although dysfunction anywhere in the complicated hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid pathway can result in hypothyroidism, more than 95% of all cases occur as a result of destruction of the thyroid gland. About half of the causes of thyroid gland destruction are suspected to be caused by the dog's own immune system killing the cells of the thyroid gland. The other half is caused by atrophy of the thyroid tissue and resultant infiltration of the tissue by fat. The cause for this form of the disease is unknown.

Who gets hypothyroidism?

Although the onset of clinical signs is variable, hypothyroidism most commonly develops in middle-aged dogs between the ages of 4 to 10 years. The disorder usually affects mid to large size breeds of dogs, and is rare in toy and miniature breeds of dogs. Breeds that appear to be predisposed to developing the condition include the Golden Retriever, Doberman Pinscher, Irish Setter, Miniature Schnauzer, Dachshund, Cocker Spaniel, and Airedale Terrier. German Shepherds and mixed breeds appear to be at a reduced risk of contracting the disease. There does not appear to be a sex predilection but spayed females appear to develop it more often than intact females.

What are the symptoms?

Thyroid hormone is needed for normal cellular metabolic function. A deficiency of thyroid hormone affects the metabolic function of all organ systems. As a result, the symptoms are usually variable and non-specific. There is not a specific symptom that is diagnostic for hypothyroidism. There are, however, several symptoms that when combined together make the veterinarian more suspicious of the likelihood of the animal having the disease. A study on hypothyroid dogs revealed the following information on the variety and frequency of symptoms seen with the disease:

Clinical Symptoms Percentage of Dogs Showing Symptoms
Lethargy/mental dullness 70

Hair loss 65

Weight gain/obesity 60

Dry hair coat/excessive shedding 60

Hyperpigmentation of the skin 25

Cold intolerance
15

Slow heart rate
10

High blood cholesterol 80

Anemia 50



How is hypothyroidism diagnosed?

There are several different tests used to diagnose hypothyroidism in the dog. The test chosen will depend on the symptoms and the availability of different tests to your veterinarian.

Baseline T4 Test: The most common test run is the baseline T4 test. A blood sample is drawn and tested by radioimmunoassay to determine the level of T4 thyroid hormone in the bloodstream. The T4 hormone is produced only in the thyroid gland and dogs with a failure of the thyroid gland will have a lowered level of this hormone. However, there are other conditions that can cause a lowering of T4 so if this screening test is positive for hypothyroidism another more specific test is often done to confirm the diagnosis.

Baseline T3 Test: Another screening test that can be run is the baseline T3 test. T3 is another form of thyroid hormone found in the bloodstream. This test can be used as a screening test instead of T4. The T3 test is not as accurate in early cases of hypothyroidism and occasionally will be normal when the T4 level is reduced. For these reasons, this test is often used in combination with the T4 test or with the TSH stimulation test.

TSH Stimulation Test: The TSH stimulation test is the most definitive blood test available for diagnosing hypothyroidism in the dog. If a dog has a low T4 or T3 level, this test may be performed to confirm a diagnosis of hypothyroidism. A small amount of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is injected into the vein. After 6 hours, a blood sample is drawn and the T4 level is checked. A dog without thyroid disease that may have other conditions causing a low T4 will have a high T4 level after the TSH injection. A dog with true hypothyroidism will not have an increase in T4 after the injection.

As mentioned earlier, 95% of thyroid disease is caused by destruction or loss of the thyroid gland function. If hypothyroidism is suspected but not confirmed by these three described tests, then it is possible that the condition may be caused by one of the other 5% of conditions that cause hypothyroidism. To diagnose those problems, one or several of the following tests may be used: TSH stimulation test, serum total reverse T3 concentration (a radioimmunoassay), serum free T4, and serum free T3 concentration.

How is hypothyroidism treated?

A hypothyroid dog will need to be on thyroxine for the rest of his life.

One of the nicest things about this disease is that it is easily treated. Treatment consists of putting the dog on a daily dose of synthetic thyroid hormone called thyroxine (levothyroxine). There are numerous brand names of this drug. The dose and frequency of administration of this drug varies depending on the severity of the disease and the individual response of the animal to the drug. A dog is usually placed on a standard dose for his weight and then blood samples are drawn periodically to check his response and then the dose is adjusted accordingly. Once therapy is started, the dog will need to be on treatment for the rest of his life. Usually after the treatment is started, the majority of the symptoms resolve.

References and Further Reading


Bonagura, J. Kirks Current Veterinary Therapy XII. W.B. Saunders Co. Philadelphia, PA; 2000.

Bonagura, J. Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy XIII. W.B. Saunders Co. Philadelphia, PA; 1995.

Ettinger, S. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. W.B. Saunders Co. Philadelphia, PA; 1989.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

No, just because you have heard 2 Veterinarian's tell you your dog has a thyroid problem and one to another lady on your way out doesnt mean they are telling EVERYONE their dog as a thyroid problem. It is a blood test that is preformed, if there wasnt one preformed then you need to see a different vet. But if there was, the vet isn't lying. Alot of people's animals have thyroid problems and they dont even know about it, mainly because they breed a ***** who is Hypo or Hyper and she passes it to the pups.

Answer 4

cure thyroid dogs

Answer 5

Making dietary changes is your first line of defense in treating hypothyroidism. Learn here https://tr.im/2IaHB

Many people with hypothyroidism experience crippling fatigue and brain fog, which prompts reaching for non-nutritional forms of energy like sugar and caffeine. I’ve dubbed these rascals the terrible twosome, as they can burn out your thyroid (and destabilize blood sugar).

1. Just say no to the dietary bungee cord. Greatly reduce or eliminate caffeine and sugar, including refined carbohydrates like flour, which the body treats like sugar. Make grain-based carbohydrates lesser of a focus, eating non-starchy vegetables to your heart’s content.

2. Up the protein. Protein transports thyroid hormone to all your tissues and enjoying it at each meal can help normalize thyroid function. Proteins include nuts and nut butters; quinoa; hormone- and antibiotic-free animal products (organic, grass-fed meats, eggs, and sustainably-farmed fish); and legumes.

Answer 6

"Thyroid" is not a medical condition. It is a organ in your dog, and all humans.

There are excellent treatments for thyroid conditions in humans, and I suspect that there are at least mediocre treatments for thyroid conditions in dogs.

Either way, I strongly suggest you take your dog to the largest animal hospital in your state, or in a nearby state. The answer will be worth the drive.

Answer 7

My Pug dog had an overactive thyroid. I gave him Prednisone, about 5MG, a day for almost his entire life. ( 11 years) It worked like magic. I don't know if this is exactly what you dog has but see what your Vet says about giving your dog Prednisone.

BTW, yes, it will hurt his liver in the long run but I think it's better than watching them suffer for years. My dog lived to be a fair age, he didn't die very young.
Good luck to you.

Answer 8

There is a cure, your vet should be able to give you thyroid medication for you pet. My golden retriever has just such a condition and it can be managed with medication. Your vet should be knowledgeable about this or try another vet.

Answer 9

Thyroids are good, actually. It's a gland inside the neck which produces hormones that the rest of the body uses to do work. I think. I dunno. Sounds like the thyroids of your dog isn't working like they should, probably. I wish your dog peace and long life.